By Nangamso Mabindla
25 July2008

AS part its contribution to skills development and job creation in the province, the Eastern Cape’s department of roads and transport is looking for 63 unemployed graduates to join its internship programme.

The MEC for safety, liaison, roads and transport, Thobile Mhlahlo, said the initiative aimed to deal with the challenge of scarce skills in the department. When it hosted a Transport Sector Careers Exhibition at the Bhisho Airport in 2007, Mhlahlo urged learners to consider careers in the technical fields like engineering, rail, aviation, maritime and transport economics.

“As we traverse this social transformation process, we have observed the continuous challenge of nurturing skills that are highly needed in order to transform our transport sector and the economy of the province. These include the fields such as civil, mechanical and transport engineering, rail, aviation and maritime, as well as transport economics and a variety of technical and artisan fields.”

He said that in 2007, a total of 396 young people benefited from his department’s bursaries and learnership and internship programmes. He urged the province’s youngsters to apply for this year’s programme.

Applications to join the department of roads and transport’s internship programme close on Friday, 31 July. Interested graduates can contact Themba Peter on 040 604 7442.