22 OCTOBER 2007
Issued broadly 24/10/07

At a function held on Thursday, 18th October 2007, Torque IT was selected among training organisations from across South Africa and from various sectors of the economy as the recipient of a Gold award for its learnership successes as well as promoting skills development in the country.

The award ceremony was held at the Birchwood Hotel, in Boksburg, and hosted by the Ministry of Labour, marking the closing of the Department of Labour’s annual Skills Conference. The conference looks at general issues around skills development, its progress and the regulations that govern the roll-out of learnership programmes.

“We are honoured to be given this recognition, particularly as the Awards were judged from among so many training companies from a variety of disciplines,” says Tebogo Makgatho, Business Development Director at Torque IT.

She explains that each SETA was given the opportunity to nominate training organisations for an award. Torque IT was nominated by ISETT SETA for the significant role it has played in promoting NSDS targets and objectives.

During the Award ceremony, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka noted in her address the importance of skills development, particularly in areas where skills have traditionally been scarce.

Makgatho says that IT skills were noted as being in demand, a key focus area for Torque IT. “We have seen a large number of learners come through our doors, with most of these women and also disabled people. Of these learners, the vast majority have obtained permanent employment following qualification.” A key objective of the NSDS is to promote learnerships that lead to employment.

In the Training Providers category that Torque IT was nominated , only three awards were awarded: two silver for the runners-ups and one Gold Award to Torque IT.