The Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) hosted the inaugural Skills Conference on 3-4 September 2024 under the theme “Unlocking Potential, Unleashing Possibilities. The conference consisted of a vibrant convergence of innovation, inspiration, and collaboration, designed to elevate the CATHSSETA sub-sectors to new heights.
The conference addressed critical challenges within the South African labour market in relation to the persistently high unemployment rates and the skills mismatch that affects both youth and Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). CATHSSETA’s mandate is clear: to advance relevant skills development that accelerates economic growth, improves employment rates, and uplifts living standards.
The conference agenda included keynote addresses from industry leaders, including interactive workshops and networking opportunities. Topics ranged from a wide spread of coordinated skills development, institutional efficiency, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) frameworks, and strategies for navigating future skills needs. Each workshop session was designed to enhance the practical knowledge of attendees and fostered connections that drive meaningful progress.
Welcoming the guests and setting the context, CATHSSETA Board Chairperson, Mr David Themba Ndhlovu explained how the conference aligns with the organisation’s vision which is to harness the collective expertise and passion of industry leaders, educators, and policymakers to create transformative impacts in the sectors that CATHSSETA serves (Culture, Art, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education). In his presentation he shared real-life images and statistics (showing the state of some poorly managed recreational spots in Pietermaritzburg, KZN) that depicts the result caused by the unemployment rates in South Africa, “Youth aged 15-24 and 25-34 years continue to have the highest unemployment rates at 60% and 41.7% respectively. This conference is not just an event, it is a movement towards a well-capacitated workforce that drives economic growth and enhances the quality of life for all South Africans” Ndhlovu expressed.
Director-General the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr Robert Nkuna echoed CATHSSETA’s sentiments to heed the call for collaboration with the government in order to boost job creation across the CATHSSETA sectors. “The mandate of the SETAs does not involve job creation and putting policies in place and this is one of the major stumbling blocks that the authorities face. Therefore, the government needs to work closely with these training authorities to ensure that when policies change, SETAs are not hamstrung by policies.” Dr Nkuna adds.
Concluding and sharing the outcomes of the event, CATHSSETA CEO, Mr Marks Thibela reported back from the commission workshop sessions held on day one. During this presentation, he unpacked how the High Impact Projects (HIPs) will address key issues in CATHSSETA’s sub-sectors. Mr Marks Thibela further unpacked the practical aspects of this conference, he emphasised that it represents a vital step in aligning the educational and training initiatives within the broader objectives of the Country’s National Development Plan (NDP), 2030 and the National Skills Development Plan (NSDP), 2030.
Those who attended gained invaluable insights into the coordinated implementation of skills development programmes, institutional mechanisms, and future skills trends. “The ultimate goal is to foster stakeholder collaboration that will lead to tangible benefits for the industry and its sub-sectors.” Thibela said.
“By fostering collaboration between industry, education, and government, we are working towards a more integrated approach to skills development that will significantly contribute to our national growth and employment goals” Thibela concluded.
Overall, the authority brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including employers, educational institutions, government departments, and industry experts. The conference focused on refining the Sector Skills Plan and developing strategies to enhance learner absorption, foster entrepreneurship, and improve collaboration between various sectors.
