Youth needed in the maritime industry: Deputy Minister

There are over 40,000 job opportunities for young people in South Africa's maritime industry, Public Enterprises Deputy Minister Bulelani Magwanishe said on Tuesday.

   

"We call on young people to grab these opportunities. Thousands of them are needed in maritime," Magwanishe said at a briefing hosted by The New Age newspaper in Pretoria.

   

He said more pupils should be encouraged to take up subjects such as mathematics and science to fill the skills gap in the industry.

   

Transnet CEO Brian Molefe said subjects such as maritime and aviation should be introduced into the school curriculum.

  

"The challenge for our education system is to weave subjects, such as aviation and maritime, into the school curriculum so that pupils know about these industries when they leave school."

   

Earlier, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba said young people could benefit from programmes worth billions of rand through skills development and doing business with parastatals.

   

Eskom, Transnet, arms manufacturer Denel, and SA Airways would spend billions of rand procuring goods and services from youth-owned companies and providing training.

   

Gigaba said at least 12,000 young people were being trained at academies run by parastatals across the country.

   

-Sapa