A school tackling poverty
19-01-2015
Twenty-four students attending a catering course at Ndofaya Catering School in Meadowlands, Soweto, are at the end of May this year expected to graduate with NQF Level 4 qualifications fully accredited by the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sports Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA).
The school – which is run under the auspices of Ndofaya Caterers, a subsidiary of the National Tourism and Hospitality Association (NTHA) – was established two years ago with the aim of alleviating poverty, reducing unemployment and empowering the local community and surrounding areas with the necessary skills.
Ndofaya Caterers was given full accreditation by CATHSSETA in January last year.
The school, which started with 10 students in 2013 under the tutorship of a professional chef Mandla Motha, has a close working relationship with the City of Johannesburg.
According to Muzi Mdlalose, NTHA’s Project Coordinator and Administrator, the association and the City have a common goal of “promoting tourism and uplifting the community in the tourism and hospitality industry”.
The school is also on the City’s database of catering companies that provide the municipality with catering services.
Mdlalose says NTHA had also taken part in various activities and major events organised by the City, such as World Aids Day, Women’s Day and Youth Day and helped the City to create awareness about the importance of these events.
Mdlalose says the school, which charges students a once-off fee of R1 000 for the duration of the course, provides both theoretical and practical lessons, with the latter constituting about 70% of the content.
After graduation, the successful students are given the option of starting their own catering companies or bread-and-breakfast establishments or are placed at various major hotels and restaurants that have an agreement with the school to provide them with staff.
NTHA was established in 2001 with the aim of creating job opportunities in the tourism industry and has 24 branches in Gauteng.
It helps its members and their families by providing them with business management skills and assisting them in obtaining trading licences and creating an understanding of liquor laws and bylaws.
In 2008, NTHA established Meadowlands Tourism Development Centre (MTDC), a non-profit tourism development and information entity that has been involved in developing and promoting market-driven tourist destinations in Meadowlands and surrounding areas.
NTHA’s board of directors includes President Fanny Mokoena, Deputy President Monde Dhladhla and Managing Director Maude Masiywa. Its offices are located at Chiefs House, 2223 Zone 4, Meadowlands in Soweto.
The house was officially opened by former Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe in December 2009.