When posting please remember that you are wanting to create a business relationship - whether a contract or work relationship. Use your post to present a professional image of yourself & if relevant, your organisation. In addition to what you are looking for, provide your name, title, and contact details.
Forums
Our condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and comrades of Membathisi Mdladlana. A very sad loss of the initiator of the skills development concept and landscape. Known as Shepherd, with years of leadership in teacher associations and the Democratic Teachers Union, as Minister of Labour, he shepherded in the skills development revolution.
Reading any of the original publications of the then Department of Labour, and the concept of social justice and redress of past exclusion is clearly apparent in the words and graphic illustrations.
After publication of the Skills Development Act in 1998, and the Skills Development Levies Act of 1999, the landscape became effective in the year 2000.
The institution of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) anticipated skills planning by sector, and skills development via the concept of a Learnerships and skills programmes - to be funded by the Skills Development Levy (SDL).
Skills development remained under the Department of Labour until the changes of 2008 and 2009 brought about the separation of education into Basic Education and Higher Education, with skills development falling under the latter.
Shepherd Mdladlana always spoke with passion of the skills revolution - a passion and concept that appears to have now dwindled. For me personally, he will remain the father of skills development - in pursuit of social justice.
The passing of Minister Mdladlana is even more tragic in the light of the passing a week ago of Minister Tito Mboweni, who preceded Minister Mdladlana as Minister of Labour. Two strong, capable, knowledgeable, experienced, and trustworthy, previous ministers - models for the recent appointees to follow.
May both rest in peace.
For the comments of President Ramaphosa on the passing of these two giants of the post-apartheid era, see the following sites:
https://www.thepresidency.gov.za/president-ramaphosa-saddened-passing-former-minister-tito-mboweni
