The Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) will be hosting the send-off lunch at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre in Kempton Park at 13h00 today, 07 October 2022 in honour of the two (2) students who will be competing in the World Skills International Competition for 2022. The competitions are taking place in eight (8) countries in Europe, starting from 01 October until the end of November 2022.

The two (2) participants being supported by the CATHSSETA are Ms Chuene Daivy Ramphele from Waterberg Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College, who will be competing in the Cooking category and Mr Yanga Jili from Ekurhuleni West TVET College, who will compete in the Restaurant Services category from 17-26 October 2022 in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The 2022 Special Edition (WSC2022SE) will see over 1,100 competitors from 57 countries and regions participate in 61 skills which will be held between October and November 2022. In the past event competitions held every two (2) years, the South African delegation was led by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Honourable Dr Bonginkosi Emmanuel Nzimande, supported by the Deputy Minister, Honourable Mr Buti Manamela. This year’s competition was initially scheduled to take place in Shanghai, China, however, the venue was changed and spread into eight (8) countries and 16 cities in Europe due to the continued spread of Covid-19 infections. Administratively, the Department of Higher Education and Training’s World Skills South Africa (WSZA) Directorate is responsible for the coordination of the World Skills activities throughout the years as this is not an event but a programme that the Minister has institutionalised. In between the international competitions, the WSZA mobilise all stakeholders and encourage them to identify competitors and start

preparing them a year in advance to ensure that they are ready when the actual competitions take place.

Furthermore, South Africa under the auspices of the World Skills South Africa (WSZA) will participate in 29 different skills to which will be hosted in 9 different countries. On 28 September 2022, WSZA hosted an official send-off ceremony where all the competitors and national experts/trainers were in attendance and committed to bringing some medals back home. The CATHSSETA CEO, Mr Marks Thibela, delivered a message of support to the competing team on behalf of all the participating SETAs and encouraged them to go all out and showcase their potential.

CATHSSETA saw it befitting to host its own send-off lunch in honour of the two participants who will compete in the cooking and restaurant services skills categories. This initiative is aimed at showing support to the competitors that the SETA was fully behind them providing them and also boost their confidence levels. Over and above this luncheon, CATHSSETA will also send representatives to Switzerland to support the competitors and their trainers, from the day of the official opening ceremony until the closing. The representatives include the Board Chairperson, CEO, and Executive Manager: Learning Programmes.

Lastly, the CATHSSETA pride itself on having decided to provide financial support for the first time, to the World Skills Competitions, although we never knew at the time that there will be competitors at the international level. We wish the competitors the best of luck and hope they will bring medals.