Business chambers in the Eastern Cape have pledged to support STEM education following meetings held on the 10th and 11th of December 2024 with Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ms. Nomalungelo Gina. The discussions focused on addressing South Africa’s STEM skills gap and boosting collaboration with industries.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, represented by CEO Ms. Denise van Huyssteen, highlighted the urgent need to produce more engineers, as international demand poaches local talent. The chamber invited the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) to collaborate on identifying critical skills needs and developing tailored upskilling programs.
Similarly, the Border-Kei Business Chamber supported the initiative. Executive Director Ms. Lizelle Maurice emphasized preparing young people for future jobs and enhancing underutilized resources like the science and technology center in the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ).
The DSTI aims to create a strong STEM pipeline connecting basic education, post-school education, and job opportunities, aligning education outcomes with industrial needs.
