Ward 106 Councillor Johnson Chetty has expressed his excitement that business entities are flourishing and giving back to the community of Verulam as part of their social responsibility program. This comes after recent outreach by two local companies in partnership with Chetty.
The first example of this saw Zenzele Security and Training, in partnership with Councillor Chetty, recently celebrate the graduation of 92 students from its specialised security training programme. The initiative was designed for 100 youth from Ottawa and surrounding areas.
Ward 106 Councillor Johnson Chetty said: “As the Councillor in Verulam, I am extremely concerned that Verulam has a high unemployment rate, especially amongst the youth. The sponsorship of free Seta-accredited training will enable our youngsters to be more employable. Any avenue to empower our youngsters is wholeheartedly appreciated and welcomed.”
The programme was created to equip unemployed youth with practical, employable skills and provide a stepping stone into meaningful careers. With trainees identified and recruited via Cllr Chetty’s office, the training awarded graduates the EDC Security Certificate, a nationally recognised qualification that enables them to work professionally as security officers.
In another show of generosity, 40 tablets were sponsored to Temple Valley Secondary by the CEO, William Mkhabela, of SA Steelpack Solutions. The tablets were handed over to the school, and Mkhabela and his team from the company also assisted in training in the usage of the tablets.
Chetty said: “The extremely generous sponsorship of 40 tablets, an exorbitant cost to the company, is greatly appreciated, especially by the pupils who can get upskilled to make them conversant in IT technology. This knowledge can be a great asset in their future as virtually all job opportunities require computer skills. It is also very pleasing that Temple Valley has been chosen to receive these tablets, as this school, being Quintile 5, has almost 95% learners from indigent backgrounds and receives a meagre pittance from the state.”
The team from SA Steelpack Solutions were welcomed to the school by Cllr Chetty and dozens of pupils in traditional Zulu attire.
