Durban - MEC for Public Works and Human Settlement Sipho “KK” Nkosi says the department wants to roll out the furniture manufacturing programme in Durban, that trains young people in the art, design and making of the furniture, to other parts of the province.
On Tuesday, Nkosi engaged with the first group of trainees in Durban. There are 20 people being trained in eThekwini in this skill under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
He said the department plans to have at least 60 people in three different districts being trained in furniture making by next year.
“We have identified the area of uMzinyathi District where we want to open another centre by next year and we will also be looking for another district. We already have people training in the eThekwini metro, so the plan is to have three districts by next year.
“We engaged with the trainees in eThekwini and we have advised them that they should form a co-operative, and the government will train them in financial management and will also fund them (to start operating),” he said.
He added that the department of Economic Development as well as the Premier's Office had millions available in potential funding, and other government departments had shown interest in partnering with the province to make the programme a success.
Nkosi said the programme had tremendous potential to give young people skills they could live on, and reduce the unemployment rate in the country.