Skies open up for E Cape youth

The province's Transport Department, in partnership with Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS), is looking for young people who have passed matric to apply to study air traffic control.

"This initiative is part of the department's transport sector skills revolution campaign, designed to produce the scarce skills required by this critical sector of the province's economy," said Transport Department spokesperson Ncedo Kumbaca on Tuesday.

He said potential applicants need to have passed matric with maths (not maths literacy) at Level 4, with a higher grade D or standard grade C symbol, and English at Level 4, with a higher grade D or standard grade C symbol.

A great opportunity

"Applicants need to bring certified copies of their matric certificates and their identity documents. They will later be notified about the date and venue for briefing and assessment," added Kumbaca.

Thembelihle Ndatyana (17), from Mdantsane outside East London, completed matric last year and was going to take a gap year, unable to study further due to financial constraints. He said the department's offer was a great opportunity for him and others who can't enter into tertiary education this year.

"I'm really excited about this opportunity because my parents didn't have the money to send me to university. I'm on my way now to submit my documents to the department," said Ndatyana.

Nearly 300 youths, including 134 women, have already benefited from the provincial department's bursary scheme - 115 of those are currently studying towards a national diploma in civil engineering.

"We are looking forward to the day when the shortage of air traffic controllers and pilots will be a challenge of the past, when we see especially young African girls not only serving refreshments inside airplanes, but also being active participants in this industry," said transport MEC Thandiswa Marawu.