Three Helderbergers were among 56 graduates honoured by the City Of Cape Town’s Environmental Management Department after successfully completing their three-year training through the Kader Asmal Skills Development Programme.
The graduation ceremony took place on Monday 3 June at the Alphen Centre in Constantia, and the basin’s three skills-development graduates who are based and work in the area are: Celmari Pieterse and Olothando Mshweshwe who are employed at the Helderberg Nature Reserve in Somerset West, and Dante Wehr (SNR) who works at the Steenbras Nature Reserve in Gordon’s Bay. All three are People and Conservation Officers (EPWP Skills Development Trainee Level Two).
Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee member for Spatial Planning and Environment Eddie Andrews, and Mayoral Committee member for Urban Waste Management Grant Twigg congratulated the graduates on their workplace readiness.
“The City’s commitment to enhancing young people’s skills is unwavering,” said Twigg. “We recognise that investing in the youth is a responsibility that will shape the future of our city. This Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is not just a few months’ work experience programme, but we see it as a way to uplift communities and ensure we have young talent that will readily advance this commitment to serve while equipped with the necessary skills and experience.”
The first phase of the Kader Asmal Skills Development Programme was initiated in July 2018 and forms part of the City’s Skills Development Programme. It is funded through the EPWP office.
“The Kader Asmal Skills Development Programme demonstrates the City’s resolve to invest in our youth. Our relationship with nature and our environment requires dedication. So we recognise these young graduates’ achievements, their legacy and give special thanks to our Urban Waste and Spatial Planning and Environment Directorates. The City currently manages more than 45 000 ha of accessible protected areas through our 21 nature reserves, and we have 354 green belts across Cape Town. We can proudly boast about our 307 km of coastline. It is not by mistake that we lead Unesco’s Heritage sites in South Africa. You, the graduates, were a part of this continuous success story through looking after our natural assets and making an invaluable contribution,” insighted Andrews.
The Kader Asmal Skills Development Programme is an inter-departmental project implemented by the City’s Environmental Management Department through its Invasive Species Unit.
The second phase of the programme was initiated in July 2021 with around 114 participants, of whom 76 exited the programme into mainstream employment opportunities. It is noteworthy that 21 of these are currently employed permanently by the City of Cape Town.
After Mpotseng Thema’s contract expired at the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria she moved to Cape Town and completed an application for the Kader Asmal Skills Development Programme.
“Working for the City of Cape Town has really been fulfilling,” said Thema, who only joined the programme a year-and-half ago. “I have amassed invaluable experience in my capacity as a Quality Control Communications and Advocacy Specialist in the Invasive Species Unit in Westlake. It saddens me that I have graduated. Not in a sad, sad way, but leaving is hard. I am in the process of applying for jobs and I have an interview lined up with an organisation in Madagascar.
She received a Peer-to-Peer Award and Excellence Award for demonstrating integrity and a strong commitment to the City’s mission and values.
The participants are selected from the Kader Asmal Integrated Inter-Departmental Catchment Management Programme’s database, the City of Cape Town job seeker database, and also from partner organisations.
“I completed my National Diploma in Horticulture at CPUT and when there was an outbreak of PSHB [Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer beetle] in Somerset West, the City needed someone with a horticultural background,” said Pabalelo Prince Maake, who also bagged the Silver Shield Award and Outstanding Assistant Conservation Officer for practising the City’s values and performing duties over and beyond the expected norm. “I would like to thank the City and the Kader Asmal Programme for the recognition. With the skills acquired here one can only go higher and higher.”
Young people between ages 16 and 35 are encouraged to visit their local subcouncil with their ID and proof of address to register with the EPWP Jobseekers Database for upcoming temporary work opportunities within the geographical boundaries of your local subcouncil.
“I have gained an immense wealth of experience and enjoyed working with various communities and City staff,” said Mogamad Davids. “I feel I have worked with a variety of special people that actually care and go out to make a difference in the lives of residents. My main goal going forward is to become a permanent City staff member. I love what I do and could do it over and over.
He graduated and received an additional nod from his peers for significantly improving customer service as well as his natural ability to foster collaboration and cooperation among colleagues and stakeholders.
The next intake for the Kader Asmal Skills Development Programme will be implemented across the additional units within the Biodiversity Management Branch in due course.
