EAST LONDON- Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane delivered a keynote address at the Entrepreneurship Symposium on 23 April 2025 at Osner Hotel in East London. The symposium, themed ‘Mapping Alternative Pathways into the Labour Market,’ was convened by the Eastern Cape Socio-Economic Consultative Council(ECSECC), Eastern Cape Department of Education(EC DoE)and Human Resource Development Council of the Eastern Cape(EC HRDC).Mabuyane highlighted province’s historical disadvantages, particularly in former homelands that require skills development, innovation and inclusive growth.
Key growth areas include the automotive manufacturing sector, agriculture, renewable energy, ocean economy and creative industries. TVET colleges are crucial in bridging education and the workplace equipping youth with practical skills. However, these colleges face challenges like weak governance, underfunding and inadequate infrastructure.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said, “We must be bold in our approach to break the cycle of unemployment and underdevelopment in our province.”
Speaking at the Entrepreneurship Symposium he highlighted the importance of skills development, innovation and inclusive growth saying, “The future of our youth depends on our ability to provide skills development, innovation and inclusive growth.”
In addition, he also stressed the need for stronger industry partnerships citing Germany’s dual education system as a model and encouraged entrepreneurship training and mentorship in TVET colleges.
Entrepreneurship training, business incubators and mentorship are essential in TVET colleges.
The Premier highlighted initiatives like the Isiqalo Youth Fund and praised youth-owned enterprises like Kwa-Kuhle Group and Mvolo Heights. He encouraged young entrepreneurs to focus on trading with community members and announced policy measures like tax breaks for firms training young graduates.The Premier emphasized removing bureaucratic obstacles and supporting the informal sector.
He concluded that unlocking youth potential requires a multifaceted approach, including skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation and technology.
Photograph: Facebook/EC Premier
Nontando Mbonwa
Leave a Reply