DA responds to Manuel’s blame for skills shortage

By Tina George
23 October 2007

South Africa is facing a massive skills shortage, much the same as is experienced in many other developing countries throughout the world.

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel places blame on the developed world for the skills shortage in developing countries.

The DA’s Anchen Dreyer responds by saying that, although the easy way out is to put blame elsewhere, self-reflection was necessary.

“It’s more responsible to look at ourselves and say what can we do to maintain good people. We have to look at working conditions, look at how attractive it is for skilled people to stay and work here and what we do to provide career opportunities and that’s where we fall short,” Dreyer says.

Dreyer adds that South Africa must learn to compete in the international and global world and make it more attractive for valued skilled people to stay in the country.