Eastern CapeTransport MEC, Weziwe Tikana, will hand over R200 000 worth diving and training material to young people currently undergoing training for maritime-related skills in Port St Johns.
The handover on Sunday will see 35 youth between the ages of18 and 35, were selected from coastal local municipalities falling within theO.R. Tambo and Alfred Nzo District Mun municipalities.
“This skills development project is an initiative of the Port St Johns Municipality in partnership with the Department of Transport and the South African MaritimeSafety Authority (SAMSA) and implemented through the Natal Sharks Board,”Tikana said.
She says the youth are being trained on two core tracks, DeepSea Diving and Life Guard training. Both tracks consist of the core learning units as well as fundamental modules.
“On successful completion of the qualification, learners who have been assessed to be competent will be awarded a Master Scuba Diver Ticket issued by the NationalAssociation of Underwater Instructors (NAUI),” she said.
Those learners that will undergo training as Life Guards will on successful completion of the qualification and upon being found to be competent be awarded a Surf Life Saving Award issued by Life Saving South Africa.
The Department of Transport which is the main driver of maritime related projects in the province hopes that the availability of these skills within the area will assist the small coastal town to overcome some of the challenges it faces and position it to explore other opportunities within the maritime sector.
“As a government, we want to accelerate the implementation of operation Phakisa, in particular projects within the Oceans Economy and we believe that maritime related skills will be in high demand. It is, therefore, a strategic move to get our young people ready to participate,” said MEC Tikana.
“This training will further increase their ability to access job opportunities in the sector.”
This skills development project forms part of a broader maritime Development Programme for Port St Johns which will also see the establishment of a Maritime Resource Center in the area.
(Statementsupplied)
