Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Mr Buti Manamela and the High Commissioner of India To South Africa H.E Jaideep Sarka to officially open the Gandhi-Mandela Centre of Specialisation in Pretoria

Deputy Minister Mr Buti Manamela and the High Commissioner of India to South Africa, His Excellency Mr Jaideep Sarka, will officially open the Gandhi-Mandela Centre of Specialisation for Artisan Skills at the Tshwane South TVET College in Pretoria.

In July 2018 at the BRICS Summit, South Africa and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to set up the Gandhi-Mandela Centre of Specialisation for Artisanal Skills in South Africa. This was in recognition of South Africa’s drive to promote quality vocational education and training for young people, as well as to meet the need for artisanal skills in the country.

In October 2018, just a few months after signing the MoU, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and India’s High Commissioner to South Africa hosted a soft launch of the Gandhi-Mandela Centre of Specialisation for Artisans Skills at the Pretoria West Campus of the Tshwane South TVET College.

Also in 2018, the Department of Higher Education and Training committed to launching 26 Centres of Specialisation at TVET colleges across the country. The aim was to prioritise 13 occupational trades in high demand to curb trade skills shortages, as well as reduce unemployment and poverty.

The Department, through the National Skills Fund, allocated R150 million to fund the initial set-up costs of the 26 centres of specialisation. The Government of India injected R48 million towards the establishment of the Gandhi-Mandela Centre of Specialisation.

Source: Government of South Africa