Date: 2025-10-21 07:24:41

Ward 17 residents Acquire Essential Vocational Skills

ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WARD 17 RESIDENTS ACQUIRE ESSENTIAL VOCATIONAL SKILLS

A wave of hope and transformation is sweeping through Ward 17 as 75 previously unemployed residents step confidently into a new chapter of empowerment and opportunity.

Through a bold initiative led by the eThekwini Municipal Academy, these community members have completed an intensive three-month vocational training programme in plumbing, electricity, and bricklaying, equipping them with the skills to rebuild not only infrastructure, but their own lives.

Ward 17 includes areas like Klaarwater, Umbhedula, Shallcross, Insizankwazi, Savannah Park and St Windolins. 

A recent certificate handover ceremony marked more than just a graduation- it was a celebration of grit, growth, and new beginnings. 

For many, this achievement is a gateway to employment, dignity, and self-reliance.

Already, a significant number of graduates have secured work on the Community Residential Units (CRUs) project in Klaarwater, applying their newly acquired skills to rebuild homes in their communities.

Ward 17 Councillor Sibusiso Khwela hailed the initiative as a game-changer, describing the programme as a beacon of hope for the community.

“This is a transformation that is empowering our people with skills that will uplift families, restore dignity, and ignite economic activity in our ward,” he said.

This initiative is a strategic response to the socio-economic challenges facing Ward 17, designed to foster self-sufficiency, reduce unemployment, and promote inclusive growth.

Among the proud graduates was Muziwenhlanhla Hlabisa, a determined young man with a disability who completed the electricity trade.

“Being part of this programme has been life-changing. I may be living with a disability, but I refused to let it define my future. I grabbed this opportunity with both hands, and today I stand proud as a qualified electrician,” he said.

He added that this is just the beginning, as he is already part of the team rebuilding the CRU project in Klaarwater.

“I want to show others, especially those with disabilities, that no obstacle is too great when you believe in yourself and your dreams,” said Hlabisa.

The initiative is not just changing the landscape of the ward, it is changing lives. 

It stands as a model for how municipalities can empower communities to take ownership of their development, build local capacity, and deliver services with pride and purpose.

ENDS

Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate.