Commercialisation entity Unisa Enterprise (UE) and the Musina Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) have signed a partnership agreement to develop an MMSEZ-accredited and non-accredited skills development programme and provide training.
The partnership aims to close the gap between formal and academic qualifications and skills training that are critically needed to foster governance, accreditation and compliance by community members, in line with applicable economic zone entrepreneurship development programmes, the organisations said on February 28.
Another one of the aims is to develop accreditation of lower-level skills that are needed in local communities in South Africa and on the continent.
Additionally, the organisations will pursue further research solutions and industry transformation programmes aligned to broad-based black economic empowerment rule books and codes.
The partners will also undertake collaborative community engagement activities and corporate social development initiatives, they said.
“We are excited by this partnership and the potential it brings to contribute to the country’s developmental agenda,” said UE executive chairperson Lesetsa Matshekga.
The partnership between UE and MMSEZ comes after the MMSEZ signed an agreement with independent power producer Red Rocket, for Red Rocket’s investment in the MMSEZ is for the development, construction and operation of a 500 MW solar photovoltaic power plant in the south site of the SEZ.
MMSEZ will provide the power producer with a suitable piece of land of about 1 250 ha for the plant inside the zone and provide the necessary technical and business development information to Red Rocket.