KZN Department of Transport employs 300 interns in skills revolution drive

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KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport Siboniso Duma announced that 300 graduates will be employed by the department.
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In a bold move to address soaring youth unemployment, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has employed 300 graduates through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Coastal KZN Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College.
Announced by MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, the initiative forms part of the department's 'Skills Revolution' campaign, aimed at turning young people into active participants in building the province's infrastructure and economy.
'Our view is that with the right skills steeped in mentorship and practical experience, young people will be the nation builders with the capacity to create a prosperous province for future generations,' said Duma during a media briefing at Inkosi Mhlabunzima Maphumulo House.
Duma said the partnership with Coastal TVET College would offer artisan training, hands-on placement within the department, and skills development for young staff to take leadership roles in infrastructure projects. 'We are determined to end the vicious cycle of graduates who are unemployable,' he said.
According to Duma, the department has allocated R30.1 million to pay salaries for the 300 interns, many of whom will be deployed to assist with road network and infrastructure rollout projects. 'We want to match the skill of a young person with the right job that should be executed to strengthen service delivery, drive rural and township economies, and ultimately grow the economy of the province,' he added.
This intervention comes at a time when youth unemployment in South Africa has reached alarming levels. 'Youth unemployment has surged to 62.4% in the first quarter of 2023. This means that nearly two-thirds of young South Africans aged 15–24 cannot find work,' Duma said.
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The Public Servants Association (PSA) welcomed the initiative, describing it as a 'critical milestone in reshaping the trajectory of young professionals in South Africa.'
'This initiative reflects a transformative vision for inclusive economic growth and public-sector renewal,' said the PSA KZN provincial manager, Mlungisi Ndlovu. 'It demonstrates the Department's foresight in bridging the divide between formal education and practical workplace experience.'
Ndlovu urged other government departments to follow suit, saying, 'This initiative represents a blueprint for progressive governance. Let this be the dawn of a new era where public institutions become incubators of talent, innovation, and ethical leadership.'
The union called for the interns to be embedded in structured succession planning and mentored by 'qualified mentors and certified coaches with a proven record of ethical leadership and professional excellence.'
THE MERCURY