Pretoria – Young people’s impressions on certain careers paths had to be changed if South Africa was to turn the tide on the extensive unemployment situation, Tshwane Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said on Tuesday.
“To the young people it is more prestigious to go to a university as opposed to go to a technical college. That is the psyche we need to change. Until we’re able to resolve that question, I don’t think we are going to make a significant dent with regards to the levels of unemployment,” Ramokgopa told reporters at the Tshwane International Trade and Infrastructure Investment conference in Pretoria.
“One of the things that is in short supply in the country is the design of new tooling to help us with regards to industrialisation and manufacturing. That is not a space that young people are attracted to, and I guess that is a function of society.”
Over 300 delegates, representing leaders of businesses, different governments’ officials and potential investors from key economic sectors are attending the 2016 edition of the TITIIC.
Apart from housing some of the world’s leading motor manufacturers, including BMW, Nissan, Ford and Tata, the capital city is also home to 134 foreign embassies and missions – the largest concentration in the world outside of Washington DC.
Ramokgopa said despite having a buoyant economy, compared to other municipalities in South Africa, the economic investments will need to be translated into tangible outcomes which cut joblessness and improve the standard of life for Pretoria residents.
Ramokgopa said, however, that young people had to sharpen their skills in order to secure the employment in numerous economic projects across the city.
“When we get investors on board, we are are able to draw on existing skills in that locality and that translates to improving the lives of the youngsters. A point has been made that some of the youngsters are not equipped to participate in the mainstream economy, so they can’t be absorbed by the economy because they don’t have the requisite skills,” said Ramokgopa.
“Some of them might have post secondary qualifications but that doesn’t give them entry into the economy. That is why there is emphasis on other vocations.”
Earlier, Ramokgopa paid tribute to the automotive sector for driving the capital city’s economy during the current challenging global economic conditions.
“I assume all of us have seen in the recent months investments made in the automotive sector of the our economy which currently accounts for over 40 percent of automotive exports for South Africa and 10 percent of total export of the country,” Ramokgopa told delegates in his opening speech at the conference.
“Ford announced an investment of R2.5 billion, to produce the new Everest SUV at its Silverton Plant in Tshwane. This investment will create further 1 200 much needed jobs in the local economy,” said Ramokgopa.
“The investment follows hot on the heels of recent expansion plans by BMW (R6 billion) and Nissan (expansion from 40 000 to 80 000 units) in their plants in Rosslyn.”
African News Agency