HRDC pledges support for small business

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The council on Wednesday, 2 April 2014, held its 14th meeting, which was chaired by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

The multi-tiered stakeholder advisory body, established in 2010, under the leadership of the Deputy President, received a report on work done by the Technical Task Team on Enabling Entrepreneurship in the country.

"Council pledged its support for the recommendations (of the report), specifically supporting SMMEs through business education and funding.

"Council also acknowledged the current challenges facing potential entrepreneurs in the country such as difficulty in accessing support, including finance, especially for people from disadvantaged backgrounds," the Presidency said in a statement after the meeting.

Council also received an update on work done by the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) since its launch in July 2013. NECT supports quality education in areas including the professionalisation of teachers, strengthening school districts and improving learner welfare.

NECT is an alliance between business, labour, civil society and government. It is the first large-scale initiative in terms of the National Development Plan (NDP), which calls for collaboration to address challenges in the country's education system.

A presentation by the Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa (NIASA) on skills required for the Nuclear Build Infrastructure programme was also made at the meeting.

"The nuclear industry requires more artisans, engineers and technicians and these skills needs to be prioritised," noted the meeting.

The country's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2010 - 2030 committed the country to producing nuclear power. The plan is a 20-year projection on electricity supply and demand. In March 2011, Cabinet decided that 9 600 MW of energy in South Africa will be developed using nuclear energy.

The last nuclear build (Koeberg nuclear power station) was done more than 25 years ago.

The HRDC is under the management of the Higher Education and Training Minister to build the human resource development base required ensuring a prosperous and inclusive South African society and economy. The meeting was held at the Sefako Mapogo Makgatho Presidential Guest House.