A centre for entrepreneurship that will promote entrepreneurship education, training and development has been opened in Katlehong.
The Department of Trade and Industry, in partnership with the Ekurhuleni West College, launched the Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) at the college.
Elizabeth Thabethe, deputy dti minister, says, “It is important to note that these centres share the belief that entrepreneurship promotion is at the core of economic growth stimulation.”
Dti funds entrepreneurship courses
The Ekurhuleni Centre is the product of a five-year Memorandum of Agreement between the dti and the college, where the institution is funded by the department to implement entrepreneurship courses.
Targeted students will comprise current and former students who are unemployed and also disadvantaged individuals from communities within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
Thabethe said that the intention was to provide the much-needed link between entrepreneurship education and technical skills as provided by FET colleges.
“Further, our partnership with the college also bears testimony to the fact that collectively we seek to develop, promote and improve the culture of entrepreneurship among students and the community at large,” she added.
Helen Ntlatleng, principal of Ekurhuleni West College, said, “We will play our role in pursuit of uplifting the community of Katlehong by ensuring that we churn out well-equipped, technically astute and competent entrepreneurs.”
Programmes offered will help develop the students’ proficiency in practical skills of waste management and welding. Students will also be provided with knowledge and understanding of entrepreneurship and the establishment of small, medium and micro enterprises.