At uMngeni-uThukela, skills development remains an essential enabler for employees to excel in their individual and organisational roles to deliver on the entity’s mandate.

As part of the continued endeavours to strengthen organisational leadership capacity; two Executives enrolled for an Executive Leadership Development Program at Gordon Business School and University of Cape Town (GetSmarter) respectively. A three multi-layered assessment was adopted focusing on key areas namely; behaviour change, attitudinal and technical skills. The outcomes of the capacity impact assessment report will be used as baseline for the design and decision-making on future Leadership Development initiatives.

A total of 11 employees have been enrolled for the Management Development Program at various accredited institutions. The purpose for enrolment is to equip the newly appointed with new set of skills and current individuals who are already occupying leadership roles within the entity with the required knowledge and ability to drive change and organisational mandate, ensure achievement of the Growth Strategy Vision 2050 and organisational sustainability. The MDP program further aims to assist with the achievement of short and long term goals of the organisation.

The Learnerships and Apprenticeships programme provided training, development and exposure to both internal and external candidates. A total of 58 apprentices were enrolled in the apprenticeship programme and received theoretical training at Amajuba TVET College and Shukela Training Centre in the Electrical, Boilermaking, Instrumentation, Motor Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering trades. During this period, learners further received practical work exposure from various operational sites within the entity as per the requirements of the programme. For this period, 9 learners in the above mentioned trades have completed their trade tests and were deemed to be competent as Artisans and appointed as junior artisans for a two-year period in order for them to gain experience that is in line with the minimum requirements of the artisan positions.

UMngeni-uThukela Water assessed the skills and competency levels of internal personnel against requirements of Draft Regulation 17 of the Water Services Act for Blue Drop and Green Drop certification and developed a multi-year training plan to fill the skills and competency gaps. The internal positions include Superintendent, Process and Quality Technicians, Senior Operator, Operator and Process Controller positions. In the reporting period a total of 380 Process Controllers were enrolled in either the Learnership Programme or in N3 Water and Waste Treatment and various courses in water and wastewater treatment. The organisation continued to provide employees with financial support to further their studies in disciplines related to the entity’s core and support business for improved performance to meet the current and future skills needs through the Assisted Education Programme (AEP). For the period under review, 37% of employees enrolled in formal qualifications that respond directly to critical and scarce skills needs. The qualifications ranges from NQF level six (6) to NQF level 10, consisting of under graduate and post graduate qualifications.