The MQA has currently contracted Port Elizaberth College to train forty (40) ex-mine workers in Eastern Cape. The training is taking place at Humensdorp (Couga District Municipality) and Han key (Nelson Mandela District Municipalility). The College is accredited by the MQA on training learners on indigineous jewellery and is currently in partnership with local District Municipalities to roll-out the Project.

 

 

The South African mining industry has shed an estimated 300 000 jobs over the last decade. The proposed programme would however still include the windows and dependents of ex-mineworkers. Most mineworkers are rural migrants, and these job losses have precipitated a social crisis in rural Southern Africa. Existing and innovative strategies need to be expanded to provide ex-mineworkers (some of whom are disabled) with needs driven skills that include ABET and small business development.

 

A Social Plan has been prepared via other industry forums. The MQA has identified the provision of ABET, vocational and business skills to ex-mineworkers as a top priority in supporting the Social Plan because of its direct linkages with the government's integrated rural development strategy and its wider reach across all provinces of South Afica. An awareness programme on HIV/AIDS would also be integrated into the training programme.

 

The proposed programme should contribute directly to this national objective by providing educational and business skills to ex-mineworkers who are mostly African males, some disabled, and located in rural areas throughout the provinces of South African.