The South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) and the National Business Initiative (NBI) Youth Employment Initiative, which was launched earlier this year in a bid to help unemployed technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college learners develop skills within the installation, repair and maintenance (IRM) space in the property sector has resulted in the placement of 85 unemployed learners across Gauteng and Cape Town.

The 12-month programme is a certified skills programme endorsed by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, which offers a viable option for acquiring the recognition of skills and competencies that lead to full-time qualifications, enabling young people to occupy positions that require artisanal skills within the infrastructure maintenance space. 

The initiative is a component of the installation registered skills and IRM initiatives, which is aimed at breaking down obstacles that inhibit young people from participating in the economy, while providing alternate routes for young people without jobs into technical careers.

“The future success of our nation and industry depends on our ability to adequately equip our young people who are the leaders of tomorrow,” Sapoa operations manager Kgabo Moshia said. 

The first quarter of this year saw South Africa's unemployment rate rise to 32.9%, one of the highest rates ever recorded. Government entity Statistics South Africa highlighted that youth unemployment remained a problem following the release of the latest figures for the first quarter.

The statistics body released the Quarterly Labour Force Survey in May which revealed that nearly 250 000 young people lost their jobs in the first three months of the year.

The partnership between Sapoa and the NBI is geared at creating training programmes that address the IRM sector, working jointly with several TVET colleges, so that unemployed youth can learn and benefit from these skills to help maintain infrastructure for both the property sector as well as the country at large.

The partnership also aims to identify and address municipal infrastructure-related challenges faced by municipalities where Sapoa members have a footprint and to conduct research on important issues affecting the real estate sector.

“The nation needs demand-led skills training, in which the two organisations can balance the need for particular skills with the availability of jobs,” Moshia said.

To assist unemployed youth in the IRM sector find employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, Sapoa and the NBI formed a joint employment-creation collaboration. The initiative has also seen the creation of other collaboration opportunities on critical industry initiatives.

“Solving our crippling unemployment challenge requires a multi-stakeholder and collaborative approach that drives bold and innovative interventions to fundamentally transform the ecosystem to ensure that young people have equitable access to livelihoods,” NBI economic inclusion head Gugu McLaren said.

Several employers have been highlighted as playing a crucial role in supporting the initiative, namely: Airscalibur, Amandla Africa Energy, Atlantis Special Economic Zone, Excellerate Real Estate Services, Leelyn Management Stripform Packaging, Rebosis Property Fund, Sekhasimbe Consientious, Soshanguve Manufacturing Technology Demonstration Centre and Tlotlokgolo Business Investments.