The Ministry of Employment, Labour, Productivity and Skill Development has refuted allegations to the effect that Madirelo Training and Testing Centre (MTTC) is on the verge of collapse due to financial problems.
This is despite the fact that the centre has been closed indefinitely for about three months now.
Reports reaching this publication suggest that MTTC is on the verge of collapse as the centre is facing a severe financial crisis.
The Centre was closed due to unavailability of funds, but recently reopened with a limited number of trainees.
It is reported that the centre has to shut down the hostels as it is struggling to fix the sewage line which is likely to cost P8 million. It was damaged by an unknown contractor.
Furthermore it is said that dozens of trainees have abandoned their courses due to lack of accommodation. Deputy Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Employment, Labour, Productivity and Skill Development, Wilson Moatshe, refuted the allegations in an interview with the The Telegraph this week.
‘It is totally not true. The Centre is up and running but there are few challenges that need to be addressed”.
Although he was reluctant to share information, he explained that the major challenge that the centre is currently facing is the sewage line that has forced the ministry to shut down the hostels.
“Sometime this year a decision was taken to temporarily shut down hostels for health reasons. They are expected to be on use probably early next year”.
He said sewage line problem has been in existence for almost two years and the cost to repair it was estimated at about P8million. He said the problem was triggered by external contractors who somehow damaged the line which is now a health hazard to trainees. He confessed that the ministry was unable to source the funds to repair the sewage line due to unavailability of funds, instead the ministry has decided to engage its own staff at the centre as there are a number of experts in the field.
“If things could go according to our plan the hostels are expected to be reopened probably early next year,” he promised.
