The Human Resource Development Council (HRDCSA) visited the Western Cape Provincial HRDC

04Apr

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDCSA) visited the Western Cape Provincial HRDC

04 April 2022

The HRDC visited the Western Cape Provincial HRDC (PHRDC) on Monday 4 April 2022 as part of the investigation it is conducting into provincial Councils to find out if they are aligned to the HRDC, what challenges they have, their governance structures and how monitoring and evaluation of provincial imperatives is conducted. The Western Cape Council was represented by officials from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), and the Office of the Premier (DoTP). Mr Nezaam Joseph (DEDAT) chaired the meeting and welcomed all delegates. The HRDC was represented by Professor Chris Nhlapo who is the Vice Chancellor of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and a member of the Executive Committee of the HRDC, Mr Christo van der Rheede from AgriSA who is a member of the EXCO also and HRDC Secretariat team led by Mr Maliviwe Lumka.

The Western Cape HRDC is chaired by the Premier, and is supported by the Provincial Secretariat, which is based within the Skills Development and Innovation Chief Directorate at the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The council meets twice a year. Similar tothe HRDC the PHRDC is a multi-sectoral and multi-tiered advisory body, comprising of a number of governance structures: The PHRDC structures mirror those of the HRDC but they are very simplified. There is the Plenary and several Coordinating structures to lead specific sector related projects. The Secretariat supports the work of both the Plenary and the coordinating structures.

The province has identified the following HRD priorities for the next five years which are linked to the programmes of the HRD Strategy.

• Safe and Cohesive Households – the province has a serious problem of crime because of the Cape Flats gangsterism and because of this, many kids are unable to get to schools that are closer to them due to fears for their safety and security.

• Growth and Jobs – the province views the development of human capital as a means toachieving employment and not an end on its own. The established partnerships are organised in such a way that from achieving qualification/skills from HRD projects, there are already job/placement in related industries, that a leaner can go into. Tailored interventions to skills development programmes and projects and workplace experience (responsive) that respond to sector skills demands

• Empowering People – As above. Current partnerships have a strong element of entrepreneurship or placement in industry. There are several centres of specialisation to hone and sharpen skills that are in demanding

• Mobility and Spatial Transformation – Overarching development approach that is multifaceted. Projects here address social inclusion and entrepreneurial train

• Innovation and Culture –The Western Cape provincial HRDC thrives on partnerships and support from the social partners.

The planning, reporting, M&E process are as follows:

• The strategy is monitored on a quarterly basis against core indicators, which suggest whether the strategies being implemented are contributing to the achievement of the objectives set out.

• There is also a process of documenting these experiences so that the body of knowledge about how to grow the alignment of supply and demand most effectively can be developed. This knowledge will feed into future processes.

• On an annual basis, there is an evaluative process which reflects on what has been achieved by the implementation. Every 3-5 years there is a deeper analysis with respect to the extent to which supply is meeting – and growing – demand.

The province highlighted challenges they are experiencing which reflect challenges experienced by other provinces. These include. ed, funding, availability of placement places for learners and quality of learners exiting schooling and training (work readiness). These challenges and many other peculiarities to each province will be included in the analysis one the visits have been completed and a solution developed that will ensure cooperativeness, integration and alignment between provinces and HRDC and amongst provinces themselves. In the long run the work of the HRDC should be effective in growing human capital for the country that is responsive to industry demand. Western Cape is by far the leading province in terms of successful partnerships and their model should somehow be repeated across the HRD landscape.

Enquiries: Mr Sydney Mhlongo

Email: Mhlongo.s@dhet.gov.za or Tel 012 943 3186

Issued by: The Human Resource Development Council Secretariat

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