Mostly women graduate in construction

Of 200 graduates in the recent Nongoma certificate awards ceremony for students who had completed their training in bricklaying, plastering and carpentry, 126 were female. This was the culmination of a partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlement.

In his speech, Nongoma mayor, Sthembiso Mathaba, said that this was knowledge that the students would use for a lifetime. Houses provide security needed by every family. He said that the houses would be of good quality as they would be constructed by highly qualified people. He also urged that in future, the course be accompanied by training in electrical, as the two go hand in hand.

Nongoma councillor Mandla Nkosi said he was happy about the skills development intervention in the area. “I strongly believe that women are capable of anything men can do. I want to encourage women not to shy away from careers that were previously male-dominated,” said councillor Nkosi. Speaking on behalf of students, Thembani Mbatha thanked the Department of Human Settlement and uMfolozi TVET College for not being afraid of giving the opportunity to females like her.

She urged other females from her home area to consider such opportunities and to do away with thinking that building and construction is only for men. “Women are as strong, and can do anything to which they put their minds. Shelter is a basic need which is currently pertinent for the people of South Africa, so this is the perfect course to study. It should assist in decreasing unemployment. Now that we have received these certificates, we can form Co-ops and can make a living. Thanks to our facilitator and uMfolozi TVET College, I am now able to differentiate between a house that has been constructed correctly and one that isn’t,” she reiterated.

Source: TVET College Times