The first graduates of the City of Cape Town’s Smart City programme to equip unemployed people with basic computer skills through its digital business centers at public libraries have received their competency certificates.

More than 40 unemployed people were selected two years ago to attend regular classes at municipal libraries Khayelitsha, Delft and Langa passed their skills tests in computer literacy, Microsoft Office applications and basic Linux operations.

Of these, 13 graduates have already been employed as data capturers in the municipality. The training equips the graduates to work in office environments as word processing clerks and personal assistants, data input clerks and administrators. Eight trainers have also been trained to continue the programme

The training was done by DLK Group, a Pinelands-based Information Technology and Communications service provider.

In congratulating the graduates, Mr Douglas Gelderbloem, manager of e-Governance in the Information Systems and technology Directorate of the City of Cape Town, said the programme was aimed at giving unemployed people basic skills and understanding of how business operate so they could be confident in entering the job market.

He stressed that the certificates showed the graduates were competent in the skills they were taught. “These are not attendance certificates. They prove that you have the basic abilities to work in a commercial environment. Smart City is proud to see that our vision has borne fruit.”