A new programme launched by Bytes People Solutions ( to assist with skills development in the North West province’s Bojanala Platinum District Municipality is a welcome initiative, particularly considering the skills shortages being experienced in many sectors. Indeed, a recent Adcorp survey found that there are currently more than 800 000 vacancies for highly skilled workers across a variety of occupations in South Africa. The same survey found that the number of unemployed people in the country has increased to 6,2-million.
The new programme has been developed in partnership with the Department of Labour in Brits, Orbit FET College in Rustenburg and the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality. It sees Bytes People Solutions creating the opportunity for 49 young, previously disadvantaged individuals from the local communities surrounding Brits, to embark on a NQF Level 3 End User Computing qualification. The qualification exposes the students to business concepts, various soft skills and computer skills which they may never have had the opportunity to learn. Successful students receive a National Certificate from the MICT Seta at their graduation in November 2015.
According to Alwyn Van Der Linde, Business Unit Executive of the Career Campus, a division of Bytes People Solutions, this initiative is a positive step in empowering young South Africans who don’t have the benefit of tertiary education.
“Bytes People Solutions’ Career Campus focuses on investing in South Africa’s unemployed youth through upskilling and training. The Career Campus takes a holistic approach to skills training and has the expertise to prepare and equip individuals for the world of work. This will be our seventh rural skills development project for this financial year, bringing the number of people supported through these initiatives this year to 180, including 147 women. As responsible corporate citizens we assist young people with skills development opportunities and improve their work readiness.”
The qualification provides a balanced learning experience that lays the foundation for access to further education and employment. Through the learnership the students gain the life skills required to function as independent and productive employees in the business world.
Other initiatives implemented by the Career Campus have produced excellent results. In Harrismith, 20 learners recently completed a one-year End User Computing programme while 30 learners in Cornelia, and 55 learners in Parys and Vredefort completed a Technical Support NQF level 4 learnership programme.