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DDG Sam Zungu, ADCOM Chairperson, Nhlanhla Dimba, employer representative Gunther
Havemann; Prof Fundiswa Nofemela represented institutions of higher learning and
W&RSETA’s Retail Leadership Chair at Durban University of Technology, Yunus Doba
Such visits are incomplete without a showcase of the work done
by the W&RSETA’s stakeholders and Mkhwanazi made time to
Retailers in the making – three of six unemployed visit a few companies. Large independent wholesaler Tradeport
learners at Cash Crusaders Distribution, shared a ground-breaking initiative where 100 interns
are part of a distribution solution that uses digital technology to
At Cash Crusaders in Brits, Store Manager, Clever Maphosa supply stock to local spaza shops through the use of taxis. This
said the company received some of its best staff from learnership initiative in collaboration between the W&RSETA, Shelfline and SA
programmes. These included their current buy shop supervisor, Taxi is providing skills development opportunities to students from
retail supervisor and buyer who started as unemployed learners TVET colleges, providing a lifeline to taxi owners to boost their
and had progressed through learnership programmes and income while bridging the digital divide. Tradeport is contributing
company ranks. Learners at this company do not only receive a R3,8 million towards the initiative while the W&RSETA funds the
stipend but also earn a commission on their sales. They set their training component.
own sales targets ranging up to R200 000 per month.

A unique partnership – W&RSETA collaborates with
Tradeport, Shelfline and SA Taxi

A stakeholder engagement session in Rustenburg

An engagement session with stakeholders from TVET colleges
and wholesale and retail companies on 1 June 2022 reflected
on the contribution of these stakeholders in addressing the high
rates of youth unemployment through various interventions of the Mkhwanazi with Tradeport Distribution CEO, Shafeeq Ismail
W&RSETA in collaboration with key role players. Stakeholders also
shared innovative solutions to bring forth skills development in Tradeport Distribution CEO Shafeeq Ismail commended the
far-flung areas of the country to benefit young people and small W&RSETA for its role in giving young people opportunities to
businesses. change their lives. “The W&RSETA has laid the foundation and we
are coming with the opportunity. This programme will spark the
KwaZulu-Natal passion for retail in the youth.”
Heading down to the coast, Mkhwanazi met with the KwaZulu-
Natal Advisory Committee, a multi-stakeholder structure that
was established in 2013 to respond to multiple challenges of
the mismatch between skills required by the industry and what is
produced by institutions of learning. The session was also attended
by the Deputy Director-General: TVET Colleges Sam Zungu who
encouraged further collaborations between these two stakeholders
to provide relevant skills that address youth unemployment.
Stakeholders landed their support for the W&RSETA’s programmes
in combating mutual challenges.
Supatrade visit

While stakeholders appreciated Mkhwanazi for The visit was concluded at Supatrade Group in Mkuze where some
taking time to engage with them, he was deeply managers from the group’s Spar, Tops and BuildIt brands shared
grateful to companies that open their workplaces how the W&RSETA’s programmes had shaped their careers to their
to provide much-needed opportunities to young current positions. They also thanked the W&RSETA for bringing in
people. young people into their stores which had greatly improved their
operations.
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W&RSETA | June 2022