Community Safety
Whether there is a Memorandum of Understanding between Northlink College and his Department; if not, (a) why did his Department distribute Northlink College application forms during a road show and (b) what was the total expenditure of the roadshow which took place in Nyanga and Greater Phillipi; if so, what are the relevant details?
(a) No.
It is common cause that youth remain most at risk of becoming either victims or perpetrators of crimes especially violent crime. These youth in particular from poorer communities are faced with high levels of unemployment, drug abuse, school drop-out and low education with little prospect of breaking free from the cycle of poverty, violence and gangs.
It is in response to these realities, that the department initiated a partnership with the Northlink College aimed at facilitating a process to help youth from these poor areas to access existing alternative accredited training programmes which are on offer at FET Colleges of which Northlink is one.
A formal Memorandum of Understanding was not yet required because this partnership does not involve any transfer of funds. This is a good example of a better together project whereby both the department and Northlink could achieve improved results by working together in an integrated manner.
For the 2014 calendar year more than 3000 youths attended or were informed of our outreach programmes with no less than 1231of them having already successfully enrolled with the Northlink college and a further 800 being accepted for studies in the 2015 academic year.
Due to the success of the programme, the department shall during the 2015/2016 financial year, and as per the announcement in the Premier’s State of the Province Address, formalize the programme.
(b) The Nyanga roadshow incurred no expenditure as it was facilitated by departmental staff and required no hiring of any equipment.
In Philippi, the expenditure for a walk about which followed the engagement with the youth was R2 250 for basic refreshments provided to the local community neighbourhood watch and CPF members as well as SAPS members who supported the department in the walk about. No expenditure for the youth engagement meeting was incurred.
