The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) has welcomed the Auditor-General of South Africa's findings of a clean audit and its achievement of 100 percent of its organizational goals.

“CHIETA is satisfied that our commitment to sustainable livelihoods through good governance and impactful delivery on skills development has been acknowledged by the country’s foremost authority on compliance,” said CHIETA CEO Yershen Pillay,

He said the clean audit in the 2023/2024 continues the same trajectory achieved in the previous financial year. It was a testament to the highly motivated team at CHIETA, led by outstanding executives and guided by an engaged and committed board and its various committees.

Pillay said the country’s chemical sector contributes massively to the economy and that CHIETA is mindful of impacting skills development and job creation in South Africa. In the 2023/2024 financial year, 74742 individuals benefited from skills training programmes through CHIETA.

Furthermore, mindful of the country’s unemployment challenge, Pillay was pleased that CHIETA initiatives created 7893 jobs.

Pillay said CHIETA's impact on the country was further boosted by the establishment of SMART Skills Centres in rural areas in six provinces throughout the country. To date, these centres have attracted more than 12,000 individuals who use the hi-tech facilities to learn or apply for bursaries or jobs.

“Our mission to bridge the digital divide and provide equitable skills development opportunities. This centre will empower our youth with the digital skills essential for thriving in today’s job market,” Pillay said.

Wezi Khoza, the Chairperson of CHIETA, remarked, that CHIETA’s achievement was pleasing because as a board they wanted the highest ethical standards and satisfied to have achieved a clean audit for the second year.

“In achieving the clean audit and 100 percent of targets met, we are pleased CHIETA is doing its bit to ensure sustainable livelihoods through skills development, job creation and the SMART Skills centres, which ensure nobody is left behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Khoza concluded.