The City of Tshwane and the University of Johannesburg have partnered to provide 52 young graduates with work experience in the Metro’s Building Control Offices through a 12-month learning programme.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development and Spatial Planning, Sarah Mabotsa, said the programme enabled the City to put its 2025 Youth Month theme, “Embracing the power of youth to drive socio-economic transformation,” into practice.

“We are pleased to confirm the placement of the 52 new young trainee building inspectors to the Department of Economic Development and Spatial Planning’s Building Control division as part of a work-based learning programme” she said.

She said placements allow young graduates, who hold qualifications in the Built Environment, to obtain valuable hands-on work experience in the built environment sector.

“These young professionals will assist our teams to conduct building inspections to make sure that structures comply with building codes and regulations. This work is critical to protecting the public and making sure buildings are safe for occupation,” she said.

The university programme coordinator, Sethu Loyilane, said: “The Building Inspector Training Programme is a workplace-based learning component that provides unemployed students with critical hands-on experience, enhancing their employment prospects while ensuring municipalities have access to skilled inspectors.”

She explained that to bridge the gap between training and employment, the workplace-based learning component of the programme provides students with essential skills. 

“This practical exposure ensures that unemployed students gain real-world experience, making them more employable and immediately ready to contribute to the sector,” she said.

She highlighted that students benefit from hands-on experience working with seasoned inspectors, applying theoretical knowledge to practical inspections.

“They are exposed to municipal processes, compliance enforcement, and industry regulations and this training enhances job readiness as both municipalities and private firms prefer candidates with practical field experience, making work-based learning participants more competitive in the job market,” Loyilane said.

Mabotsa said the City faces challenges in the built environment, including illegal land invasions, derelict or unsafe buildings, and unauthorised extensions and construction.

According to her, the work-based placements promote regulatory compliance in the construction sector, address workforce skill gaps, and equip trainees to be work-ready, ultimately enhancing the City’s service delivery to residents.

The programme aims to professionalise the construction industry by empowering young building inspectors to improve inspection quality. 

The qualification was developed by the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority and formally assessed by the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions. 

The trainees would receive a monthly stipend funded by the Gauteng Provincial Government, administered through the university.

Mabotsa said: “This programme to support municipalities will help ensure that all developments and buildings comply with national building regulations and standards, economic development, and sustainable development planning.” 

She said the partnership with the university benefits both the government and students, saying that personnel on the ground enables the municipality to conduct more building assessments, enhancing compliance and safety.

“Over and above this work-based skills development programme to help young people get work-based training, this initiative aligns with the City of Tshwane’s Economic Revitalisation Strategy which was developed by the Department of Economic Development and Spatial Planning and adopted by Council in April 2025.”

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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