200 learners to benefit from CoJ Environmental Learnership

The City of Johannesburg is committed to South Africa’s National Skills Development Agenda by focusing on both internal and external talent development initiatives.

Our commitment to skills development and the up-skilling of the unemployed is demonstrated through the provision of learnerships, internships and bursaries to youth from the Johannesburg community. We are committed to realising our vision of creating freedom, fairness and opportunity through a city that works. We will get this city working by creating an economically enabling environment and social conditions wherein investment can grow and where jobs are created.

For the first time in the history of the city, we will offer Environmental Practice Learnerships at NQF Level 2 & 3, in addition to the many learnerships we currently offer. Of late, environmental health has become of serious concern, be it global warming or the recent outbreak of Listeriosis.

The outbreak of Listeriosis in the country has highlighted many weaknesses in the system, particularly the inadequate capacity in the environment and health practitioner’s space, quality assurance and compliance with environmental health practices and bi-laws. As a city, we believe our new recruits will help to develop this critical skill base, enhance our capacity in these areas and improve how we generally dispose of waste in areas under our jurisdiction.

In this regard, during the 2018/2019 financial year, the City has with the assistance from LGSETA discretionary funding, recruited 200 unemployed learners in the newly established Environmental Learnership Programme. These cadets will be placed in Pikitup based in the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department to acquire practical learning competencies. The learners will spend 30% of their time in classroom based learning and 70% at the workplace. Mentors have been identified and trained in various departments to assist the learners to achieve their qualifications.

The learners will undergo continuous assessments which serve as a critical part of the implementation process where the progress of learners will be evaluated against the relevant unit standards. On successful completion of the programme, learners will acquire a nationally recognised qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). While the recruitment of the learners helps to reduce the high rate of youth unemployment, we believe it will also help the city to make further strides in taking care of our environment for future generations.

It is a priority of this city to create more jobs and work opportunities. It is initiatives like this from the DA led Coalition government that reduce the number of indigent people within the city and increase the number of economically active citizens.