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May 24 2012 17:31
The Reserve Bank will maintain current interest rates, and a sizeable reduction in the local petrol price is expected, says governor Gill Marcus.
May 24 2012 15:29
The Reserve Bank will maintain current interest rates, says governor Gill Marcus.
May 23 2012 22:00
Economic liberation or the lack thereof is the most divisive issue in the country, according to a survey.
Cape Town - Higher
Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande on Thursday
proposed far-reaching changes to the sector education and training
authorities (Setas) system.
The proposals include reducing the number of Setas from 23 to 21,
amalgamating several Setas to secure greater efficiencies, which
will result in six new Setas being established, and recertifying
the remaining 15 with minor changes.
Nzimande said the governance mechanisms for Setas were also being
reviewed and legislative steps would be taken to improve their
functioning.
"We are also looking into patterns of mismanagement and non-performance
in the Setas and will release details within the next
two weeks about action to be taken," he said.
The Skills Development Act allowed the minister, after consultation
with the National Skills Authority (NSA) and the Seta in
question, to direct the director general to appoint an administrator
to take over the administration of a Seta or to perform
the functions of a Seta if, among others, the Seta failed to
perform its functions.
"This is one of the options open to me to deal with non-performers,"
Nzimande said.
The new Seta "landscape" would be adopted by the third quarter of
this year after consultation with the NSA.
"The criteria guiding the proposed new landscape are to ensure coverage
of all economic sectors, financial and operational viability,
and alignment with current government priorities," he said.
The higher education and training department assumed responsibility
for skills development from the labour department in November
last year.
Nzimande also released a draft framework for the National Skills Development
Strategy (NSDS) 2011/12 to 2015/16.
The framework was intended to guide development of the Sectoral Skills
Plans (SSP) for adoption by September 2010. SSPs were five-year skills development reports prepared by Setas and
were aimed at identifying, among others, the skills needs of industry/economic
sectors, such as skills shortages, gaps and supply.
The were also intended to show the possibilities and constraints in
effectively using and developing skills. The NSDS framework would be finalised by the middle of June, he said.
The NSA would hold public hearings on both matters from June 14to 18 in Pretoria.
- Sapa