ADM SCOOPS THE LGSETA SKILLS COLLOQUIUM AWARD FOR BEST TRAINING COMMITTEE IN EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE

ABOVE: Accepting the LGSETA award for the "Best Performing Workplace" are Mr Luxolo Mbina (behind podium), Mr Luxolo Mbina, Provincial Coordinator for LGSETA, Mr Patrick Nini, Provincial Manager for LGSETA, Mr Sydwell Mofokeng, former CEO of LGSETA until April 2010, ADM Councillor Veronica Fusa, Portfolio Head for Human Resources, and Nokubulela Mpontsane, ADM Skills Development Facilitator.

The Local Government Sector Education & Training Authority (or LGSETA) Skills Colloquium was an event that was cascaded down from National to Provincial level in 2006 and is an Indaba which allows all stakeholders such as the Department for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the SA Local Government Association (SALGA), the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU), to engage and reflect on the skills development initiatives which are relevant to the Local Government Sector. It also affords the stakeholders an opportunity to voice any concerns and make recommendations  pertaining to skills development in the province. The Skills Colloquium is also a platform where issues are debated by means of commissions and subsequent recommendations assist the LGSETA going forward.

Awards are issued annually, the objective being to encourage municipalities to participate meaningfully in skills development, in line with the National Skills Development Strategy.  The awards have four categories, namely,

·         Skills Development Facilitator (or SDF) of the year,

·         Training Committee of the year,

·         “Best Performing Workplace” of the year; and

·         Most improved municipality of the year. (This category was introduced to encourage those municipalities which are still struggling with capacity).

The ADM has consistently performed very well at the annual Provincial Skills Colloquiums including the following achievements:

·         In 2007, the ADM won first runner up prize for “Best SDF Award”;

·         In 2008, the ADM won the category of the “Best Performing Workplace” site of the year;

·         In 2009, the ADM was the only municipality in the province selected to participate in the LGSETA National Awards; and

·         In 2010 the ADM won the “Best Training Committee” in the province.

The Local Government SETA recently confirmed approval of funds for ADM to conduct Entrepreneurship Skills Programme for 30 people with disabilities (PWD) and this training will be conducted within the current financial year. This training will assist with arming the participants with knowledge of basic business skills, which will assist them in exploring numerous business opportunities.