Toyota South Africa Motors Manufacturing Academy is the solution to the Challenges of Unemployment and Inequality in Youth and Women

The Toyota Manufacturing Academy was officially opened by the Minister of Higher Education - Dr. Blade Nzimande.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Blade Nzimande said: “Toyota has launched the Automotive Academy at Swinton Campus Coastal KZN TVET College. This partnership between Industry and the TVET Colleges is what the Department of Higher Education and Training is promoting. These partnerships will create job opportunities for the youth of tomorrow.

The academy forms part of the Automotive Training and Re-Skilling in the Post-Covid 19 Economic Recovery for Vulnerable Youth and Women in South Africa.

The initiative was developed out of a strategic alliance between the Department of Higher Education and Training, the United Nations Development Programme of South Africa as well as the Government of Japan in conjunction with Toyota South Africa.

Three Colleges are targeted as beneficiaries of the program: Coastal KZN TVET College (KZN Province), Tshwane South College in (Pretoria) and Northlink TVET College in (Cape Town).

Coastal KZN TVET College is one of preferred Colleges in KZN Province which was given the opportunity of launching the  Automotive Academy at Swinton Campus in Mobeni Durban.

The main aim of Toyota Manufacturing Academy across the three TVET colleges was to upskill twenty-four youths with skills relevant to the automotive industry. This initiative was supported by the Government of Japan.
As a result, a memorandum of understanding between UNDP (South Africa), DHET and Toyota(Japan) was signed.

Dr. Ayodele Odusola - representative of the United Nations Development Programme in South Africa - supported the launch. In his speech he said, “Youth development is the key to address the challenges of poverty, inequality, and unemployment. He emphasized that youth development is very important in order to unlock the untapped talent which will uplift the economy.

The introduction of the Automotive Academy project has benefited Coastal KZN TVET College youth to get empowered in order to become future leaders which will reindustrialize the new generation of South Africa. Local youth benefited by receiving training on the equipment sponsored by UNDP.

The future is bright for Siphephile Mthembu aged 23 - a student who was selected to become part of the automotive training said “I applied and I was fortunate to be chosen. This program will give me an opportunity to gain work experience and, more importantly, a rare chance to become a qualified professional in the automotive program. I also hope to find permanent employment after completing this course. Thank you to Toyota South Africa and Coastal KZN TVET College for the opportunity to enrich our skills“.