G.U.D. Holdings recently announced that it had offered permanent employment to 23 students at its Durban manufacturing site, following the conclusion of two in-house learnerships.
The company is known for leading automotive brands, GUD Filters, FRAM Filters, Safeline Brake Pads, Indy Oil and Holts.
The first learnership focused on the training of eight people with disabilities on manufacturing, engineering and related activities. The second gave 27 students from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to participate in a Project Management Learnership under G.U.D. Holdings Training Programme for unemployed Youth.
Upon completion, the company provided the students with recognised qualifications in NQF levels 2 and 4. While it absorbed 23 students in total, the remaining were either placed at other manufacturing companies or are in the process of completing the course.
Commenting on the success of the learnerships and subsequent employment opportunities, Director of Transformation Mboneni Magada said the company’s job creation approach is an example of how the private sector makes a significant contribution in dealing with the extremely important issue of creating meaningful employment opportunities for local youth.
“At G.U.D. holdings, B-BBEE is not just about ticking boxes to improve our scorecard. It’s actually about creating positive impacts on the lives of previously disadvantaged individuals by providing them with educational, training and employment opportunities,” she said.
Sharné Visagie, 24, from Sydendam participated in the Project Management Learnership and is now enjoying her job at the Durban factory. “The learnership was interesting and challenging. I learned a lot about manufacturing which I am now able to implement while getting on-the-job experience,” she said.
Her colleague, Quinsani Khoza, who also participated in the Project Management Learnership, said he was pleased to have been given the opportunity to better his life and hoped that the industry continued to offer training and employment opportunities to underprivileged youth like himself.
Zamani Mpungose, also from Sydenham, participated in the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Activities Learnership before being employed at the Durban factory. “I want to thank G.U.D. Holdings for the opportunity to study and earn a living. I look forward to growing in my career in the automotive industry,” he said.
