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Finding common ground at the 4th HRDC Summit

ptly themed as “Future Skills required for the 21st century”, the 4th HRDC hybrid Summit took place on 11 to 13 August 2021.
ALeaders from government, academia, civil society and private sector, came from all parts of the country to share their views on the
summit focus areas on:
- Building the Foundation for a Transformed Economy and Society
- Building the Skills for a Transformed Economy and Society
- Building a Capable/Developmental State

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) of South Africa has, as one of its key responsibilities, to build the human resource
development base required to ensure a prosperous and inclusive South African society and economy. The council aims to increase
productivity and human resource development needed to transform South Africa into a knowledge country and to substantively improve
national economic growth and development through the improved competitiveness of the economy.
Looking at the three issues addressed by the Summit and the HRDC’s mandate it is clear how closely the W&RSETA is aligned to all
these objectives.

Deputy President, Mr David Mabuza
opened the summit

In his opening remarks at the summit, Deputy President of South Africa and Chairperson on the HRDC, Mr David Mabuza said, “In
pursuance of their aspirations, we should consider how this summit advances the struggle against poverty, inequality, patriarchy,
prejudice, and exclusion of women, people with disabilities and key populations from accessing skills and broader development
opportunities across all facets of life.” The Deputy President went on to say, “At an economic level, recent results from the Quarterly
Labour Force Survey reveal that, in the first quarter of 2021, structural unemployment stood at 32.6% with this figure being worse
amongst young people.

These statistics are real and reflect faces of stifled and deferred dreams, hopes, opportunities and potential. Notably, Statistics South
Africa further indicates that from these statistics, young people and African black women in particular are the most vulnerable.”
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W&RSETA | August 2021 Issue