By Richard Mantu and Nomonde Makaula

Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has launched the Alfred Nzo Development Skills Forum in the Eastern Cape. Mdladlana's department gave R7,8-million to the forum to train unemployed people.

The launch of the forum at Evoveni, a rural village in the Alfred Nzo Municipality near Mount Ayliff yesterday, was part of Mdladlana's six-day Imbizo Campaign in the province.

The forum will oversee the implementation of the National Skills Development Strategy at district level, while linking the skills development projects to urban renewal and integrated sustainable development.

The money will be used to train 2 719 people in various skills such as sewing, poultry, arts, baking, carpentry, agriculture and other technical skills.

Apart from the Alfred Nzo Municipality, which covers areas such as Ntabankulu, Bizana, Lusikisiki and Mount Frere, the forum will also benefit two other greater municipalities of Umzimkulu, which covers rural areas like Ibisi and Ngwaqa.

And the Umzimvubu Greater Municipality, which includes places such as Maluti and Cabazane, will also benefit from the money given to the forum.

The minister also told the community about the services of the Labour Centre that is being established at Mount Ayliff.

The centre is the labour department's one-stop services that will, among other things, register workers of Unemployment Insurance Fund, allow workers to lodge complaints against their employers and gain access to skills development programmes and training.

During yesterday's event people as got a chance to register for identity documents and apply for social grants. Mdladlana also addressed the community of Enyandeni - The Great Place - in Umtata, and urged employers to comply with the provisions of labour legislations.

The minister will visit the Phakamani Mawethu Development Project in Stutterheim.
- BuaNews

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