Photo: Ms Linda Nongena-Sigedle, Director: Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), and Prof. Ntsoaki Malebo, Senior Director: Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.

On 17 April 2023, Central University of Technology and the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their long-standing relationship, which dates back to 2004 when they co-hosted the career fair.

The MoU aims to create a partnership between the Department of Employment and Labour through its public employment services to promote cooperation and achieve employment objectives.

Dr Henri Jacobs, Director: Work Integrated Learning & Industry Liaison (WIL) said “we have come a long way to having a formal agreement in place. Part of this long history and why there is a link between us is that our mission as a university is to build strategic partnerships and this is how we view this relationship.”

Ms Linda Nongena-Sigedle, Director: Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) highlighted that DEL needs to work with different stakeholders and partners to ensure that the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment is addressed. She mentioned that their mandate is to capture job seekers on their database, make sure that they match them to the relevant opportunities and ultimately place them. “We don’t want to produce unemployed graduates. Therefore, as the Department of Labour, we are working tirelessly to assist in this regard. Through this partnership, we need to work together and make an impact. Let this MoU be a living document with a clear measurable plan.”

Photo: Ms Nkwakwa, Deputy Director, Public Employment Services: Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), Dr Jacobs, Director WIL and Industry Liaison, Ms Linda Nongena-Sigedle, Director: Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), Prof. Ntsoaki Malebo, Senior Director: Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning and Mrs S Joubert, Coordinator: WIL and Industry Liaison.