News & snippetsIndustry
News & snippetsIndustry insights from the past quarterArtisan training receives R40-million boostThe Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA)has signed a collaborative agreement with the National YouthDevelopment Agency (NYDA) that will see R40-million being investedinto the establishment of a “Youth in Chemicals” programme to trainyoung artisans.Under the agreement, the NYDA has invested R10-million and CHIETAhas committed R30-million to train young people as artisans andentrepreneurs over the next few years. Organisations in the chemicalsindustries will be able to apply for discretionary grants to train morecoded welders, refractory masons, electricians and boiler makers andthis includes an entrepreneurial skills training element to ensure thatthese artisans are adequately equipped to start their own businesses.According to CHIETA CEO Yershen Pillay, this new programme is afusion of artisanship and entrepreneurship. It is designed to trainyoung artisans to be employers of youth and not simply employees.“We don’t want to train artisans to be job seekers, we want to trainartisans to be job creators. Our ‘Youth in Chemicals’ programme willtrain youth to be welders and boiler makers while at the same timeproviding essential entrepreneurial skills to start their own smallbusinesses,” says Pillay.According to the NYDA CEO Waseem Carrim, “The NYDA is committedto addressing the plight of youth through more programmesdesigned for job creation and enterprise development. This innovativeprogramme between the NYDA and CHIETA, to combine artisandevelopment with small business development, will certainly closethe skills gap and create more jobs for the youth, by the youth.”The combination of artisan training with entrepreneurship trainingis expected to lead to more jobs being created for the youth in thecountry. CHIETA and NYDA aim to support 2 000 artisans to becomeentrepreneurs over the next two years.DFA invests nearly a billion rand in infrastructureIn the first month of 2025 DFA announced that it has invested over R800-million to upgradeand future-proof its national fibre network. This investment strengthens DFA’s position as apremium wholesale open-access connectivity provider in South Africa and addresses thegrowing demand for reliable, high-speed Internet. DFA is part of the MAZIV group and DFA’snational network delivers connectivity and backhaul for mobile operators, data centres,Internet service providers and public-sector institutions. The investment follows DFA’sR400-million Dry Underground Distribution Cabinet (DUDC) network enhancement projectlaunched in August 2023, which focused on stabilising and future-proofing DFA’s networkinfrastructure. The network investment has already delivered measurable results, includinga 40% improvement in new circuit delivery times and a 100% improvement in mean time torepair (MTTR) where the new architecture is operational.Dewald Booysen, Chief Operations Officer for MAZIV, pictured, highlights the significantimprovements the firm has made in improving its customer experience. Says Booysen, “Ournetwork upgrades have vastly improved resilience and diversity in the network. We stillmaintained a national uptime of over 99.5%, even during high-incident periods. Currently,we’re performing at an exceptional 99.99% uptime.”4 | www.opportunityonline.co.za
Rand Mutual Assurance: A Legacy ofCompassion and EvolutionRand Mutual Assurance (RMA) was established in 1894 and has aunique 130-year history of offering workers' compensation services.RMA was first established to handle compensation for miners hurtwhile performing their duties, but it has since evolved and broadenedits purview to better serve the South African and internationalworkforce. RMA has developed into a vibrant company, motivated bya dedication to benefit workers throughout their life journey. Itsprimary objective is built on compassion and caring.A Holistic Approach to Worker Well-beingRMA's strategic posture represents a fundamental shift from aproduct-based organization to a provider of integrated andholistic solutions designed to benefit workers throughout their lifejourney. The group's comprehensive risk and benefits offeringsinclude:Riot CoverDisability IncomeCOID International CoverComprehensiveGroup Personal AccidentCritical IllnessFuneral CoverAugmentation PolicyGroup Life AssuranceCrime and InjuryCommuting Journey PolicyClassic Group Personal AccidentThe mission of RMA is still centred on the workers in all of theseoffers. The organisation is committed to ensuring that beneficiariesand their families receive the treatment and payment they are duewhen they suffer occupational illnesses or injuries at work.The rich and illustrious history of RMA is proof of its continuousdedication to South African workers.Rand Mutual Admin Services (Pty) Ltd (CIPC Reg No. 2012/190552/07) is an Authorised FSP 46113,both entities form part of the Rand Mutual Group of Companies)
