The South African tourism industry has been given a more than R26 million shot in the arm. It’s aimed at attracting more international visitors. The money is for training food safety assurers countrywide.
Food is the heart and soul of every sector and the corner stone of the tourism industry. There is hope of rejuvenating the ailing industry to becoming a major contributor to the national economy once again.
Government believes their training programme will reap major benefits.
“Young learners have been given skills and after which they are now working as food safety assures and they are going to assist us as government to make sure that in facilities that they work, there is food safety. Food is handled properly, they are able to avoid your diseases like Listeriosis, because then we can be sure where the they are working they make sure they check from A to Z,” says Deputy Minister of Tourism Elisabeth Thabethe.
While the food safety training initiative has benefited over 500 students across the country, in the North West and Gauteng only eleven have secured job placements.
“It’s very difficult staying at home asking parents for money you know because it’s boring,” said one young person.
Meanwhile, the National Tourism Department has committed to training an additional 1 500 food safety assurers.
