The City of Cape Town and the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) Cape, are hosting a capacity-building workshop for 38 interns that aims to equip them with the full spectrum of vocational and life skills for future employment within the hospitality sector.

This skills development programme builds on a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between the City and FEDHASA in 2016 for a pilot project that saw 20 young people being placed with FEDHASA members to gain practical work experience for a period of 18 months. In the current financial year, a further intake of 38 candidates is participating in phase two of the agreement taking the total to 58 candidates who are benefiting from the training.

Through this intervention, participating youths go through a rigorous and well-structured training programme designed to give them a foot in the door for job opportunities in the sector.
FEDHASA Cape and their partners provide the interns with on-the-job training and work experience. Host employers are drawn from across the hospitality industry, including hotels, lodges and beauty spas to conference venues, restaurants and fast-food outlets, among others.

‘I cannot overstate the importance that such partnerships are to young people directly. Too many youth are unemployed, sitting idle and unsure of which career path to follow. Tertiary institutions are not the only places of higher learning that are available to them. Such training programmes prepare them for the world of work and this is something they should strongly consider as their future endeavour. All that’s needed for this particular training programme is a matric certificate,’ said Alderman Twigg.

In terms of the MOA, FEDHASA will set and follow its own training criteria and framework. The objective is to enhance the individuals’ chances of securing permanent employment. The City will pay them a stipend from the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

The programme is the second phase of the agreement that was concluded with between the City and FEDHASA. It is currently being run in conjunction with the City’s EPWP office.

In addition, the skills programme has a built-in wellness programme which focusses on personal development, personal branding and communication, among a host of other areas to ensure the interns are well-rounded individuals upon completion of the programme.
Today, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management, Alderman Grant Twigg, together with Councillor Willie Jaftha, Chairperson of the Urban Management Portfolio Committee, checked in with the interns to talk about aspects of their wellness.