Gauteng to train 6,000 youths as solar technicians

Gauteng, the economic powerhouse of South Africa, has been facing persistent power outages due to load shedding, causing widespread disruption and financial losses. To address this challenge, the Gauteng provincial government, led by Premier Panyaza Lesufi, has announced plans to train 6,000 young people in the installation of solar panels as reported by Hypertext.

The Premier’s announcement comes as part of a new partnership between the Gauteng government and the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA). The program will train youths from the Gauteng region and provide them with an undisclosed monthly stipend during the training.

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Premier Lesufi is expected to address the media on May 4th to provide further details on his plans for training the solar technicians alongside representatives from merSETA and the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPIA).

The Premier has stated that all unemployed youths in Gauteng are eligible to apply for the training and that more details will be provided at the upcoming media briefing.

This initiative is part of a broader plan by the Gauteng government to address the province’s energy challenges. In February, Premier Lesufi announced plans for an 800MW solar farm in the Merafong region, which was expected to begin construction “in the next few weeks.” However, there have been no recent updates on the progress of the project.

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The Premier has also proposed using drones and e-panic buttons to tackle the province’s high crime rate and hiring “crime wardens” to patrol high-risk areas. The government is also planning to invest R1.2 billion towards addressing load shedding in the province.

Despite the ambitious plans by the Gauteng government, some have criticized the lack of specific timelines and details on the implementation of the initiatives. Nevertheless, training 6,000 youths as solar technicians is a positive step towards addressing the energy challenges in the province while also providing employment opportunities for the youth.

We are looking for 6000 young unemployed youth based in GAUTENG to be trained as installers of solar panels. They will earn a monthly stipend during training. Skill the youth to fight loadshedding #GrowingGPtogether. Less talk more work! pic.twitter.com/AJOijQ4GOt

— Panyaza Lesufi (@Lesufi) May 3, 2023

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Photo: Fcebook /@Panyaza Lesufi