Sgood newsBuilding a
Sgood newsBuilding a brighter futureIn a significant step towards bridging the digital divide in rural South Africa, CHIETA and the Karoo Hoogland Municipalityhave signed an MoU to establish a state-of-the-art Smart Skills Centre in Fraserburg, Northern Cape.TThis groundbreaking partnership will bring cutting-edge digitalcourses and skills development programmes to Fraserburg andsurrounding communities, equipping residents with the expertiseneeded to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.The Smart Skills Centre, set to launch in late 2025, is poised toempower local youth and community members with skills forfuture employment opportunities.“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)in January 2025 marks a crucial milestone in the ChemicalIndustries Education and Training Authority’s (CHIETA) effortsto expand digital education to underserved areas,” said YershenPillay, CEO of CHIETA. “The Fraserburg Smart Skills Centre willprovide the communities of Fraserburg, Sutherland and Willistonwith access to essential digital skills training over the next fiveyears, ensuring no-one in this rural community is left behind inthe digital revolution.”Expanding the national smart skills networkFraserburg’s Smart Skills Centre will join CHIETA’s growingnetwork of innovative training hubs, becoming the ninth SmartSkills Centre established since October 2022. This expandingnetwork includes centres in:• Saldanha Bay (Western Cape)• Eastern Cape• KwaZulu-Natal• Mpumalanga• North West• Modjadjiskloof (Limpopo)• Gauteng (Not yet launched)• Free State (Not yet launched)“With the addition of Fraserburg, we are addressing the disparitiesin skills development across rural South Africa,” Pillay added. “Thiscentre will build on the success of our previous initiatives, offeringdigital literacy, technical training and industry-relevant skills thatenhance employability and promote economic growth.”Fostering sustainability through partnershipsCHIETA is committed to ensuring the centre’s long-termsustainability by collaborating with stakeholders and partnersaligned with its vision for inclusive skills development.Organisations will have the opportunity to apply for discretionarygrants to introduce additional training programmes tailored tocommunity needs.“This Smart Skills Centre is a cornerstone of our broadermission to drive socio-economic growth in rural areas,” Pillayexplained. “Through today’s partnership with the Karoo HooglandMunicipality, we are creating a foundation for Fraserburg’sresidents and surrounding communities to thrive in the fastchangingglobal economy.”Looking aheadThe MoU will remain in effect for five years. During this time,CHIETA and its partners will continuously evaluate and adaptthe centre’s programmes to align with the demands of Industry4.0 and the green economy.“This collaboration is about more than just skills development,”Pillay concluded. “It’s about providing meaningful opportunitiesand a brighter future for the communities in the Karoo HooglandMunicipality. Together, we are building a more digitally inclusiveand sustainable South Africa.” S36 | Service magazine
