Furniture Making Programme Praised For Creating Jobs

 

Nonduduzo Ngcongo

Dr. Mimmy Gondwe, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training led a delegation to the Umkhumbane Entrepreneurship Support Centre in Cato Manor to assess the Furniture Manufacturing and Upholstery Skills Development Training Programme. She was accompanied by Ward 29 Councillor Bhekisisa Mngadi and the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FP&MSETA) CEO Dr. Felleng Yende on the visit on 29 November.

Dr Mimmy Gondwe, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training with Ward 29 Councillor Bhekisisa Mngadi were impressed with the high standard of work produced by participants of the Furniture Making Skills Development Programme at the Umkhumbane Entrepreneurship Support Centre.                        Picture: Saneli Mthalane

The oversight visit aimed to evaluate the impact of the ongoing programme, which has been providing essential skills in furniture production. After a walkabout through the centre, Deputy Minister Gondwe was left highly impressed with the high-quality, beautiful furniture pieces created by the 60 trainees currently enrolled in the programme.

“What I saw today is phenomenal and inspiring. From the stories told by beneficiaries, I can confidently state that skills development is the key to stimulate job creation and end hunger in communities,” she remarked.

The Deputy Minister also emphasised the importance of partnerships, calling on the private sector to support the initiative. "I have a passion to see women empowered, especially young women. What excites me most about this programme is that most of the beneficiaries are women, they are leading in what used to be a male-dominated sector," she added.

The programme, now in its sixth year, has trained over 150 beneficiaries, many of whom are youth and women. Of these, about 70 percent have gone on to start their own businesses and employed at least three people. One notable success story is Matho Mathenjwa, who founded Feel in Heaven Design. After receiving funding through the provincial government Operation Vula Programme once she completed her tarining, Mathenjwa grew her business and now employs over 10 people. She expressed her gratitude for the assistance which helped her to grow her business.

“I received R200 000 which was a breakthrough and helped me kickstart my business and grow it to where it is today,” she said.

Councillor Mngadi praised the programme, noting that it aligns with the City's goal to empower communities through entrepreneurship.

This year, the programme is training 60 new participants, with 30 completing a three-month course and 30 enrolled in a one-year learnership. The initiative, a collaboration between eThekwini Municipality’s Business Support Unit, FP&MSETA, and My Space Academy, is helping foster job creation and self-employment opportunities.