The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have contributed about €200,000, aimed at expanding DBSA’s Development Labs Programme (DLABs) to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition in Mpumalanga.
DLABS provide communities with training, learning and job-ready skills, to support youth employment opportunities within the Precinct zones.
DLABS will apply technologies and green solutions that create an affordable and sustainable operating environment to provide food security.
Boitumelo Mosako, CEO of DBSA, said “our DLAB Programme serves as a platform for collaboration to drive development and economic participation, positioning us to support South Africa’s Just Transition Plan.”
Rémy Rioux, CEO of AFD, said the collaboration with the AFD, is fostering a sustainable legacy, building a bridge for youth to lead in economic participation and innovation across the continent.
The DLABs will be established in the Nkangala District, home to most of South Africa’s coal-fired power stations and coal mines.
Nkangala is at the economic hub of Mpumalanga, and is rich in minerals and natural resources. The district is host to the Maputo corridor.
It also borders the Limpopo Province to the north (Sekhukhune and Waterberg DM) and Gauteng Province to the west (the City of
Tshwane and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan municipalities).
In 2019, the district had a total population size of 1.49 million people, constituting about
2.5% of South Africa’s total population and 33.4% of the total population in the Mpumalanga Province.
The district has about 440, 000 households.
About 855, 000 people live in poverty, using Statistics South Africa’s upper poverty line definition. This is higher than a recorded figure of 761, 000, back in 2009.
Picture of a DBSA DLAB in Jabulani, Soweto launched during COVID times.