The Eastern Cape water sector is set to receive a major scarce skills boost following an announcement by provincial water utility Amatola Water to establish the first training academy of its kind in the water sector in the Eastern Cape.

In September, Amatola Water took another step towards establishing the fully-fledged training hub when it received accreditation as a training provider by the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA).

Last month the utility also celebrated the graduation of 140 learners from its waste water treatment and practice programme conducted in partnership with Buffalo City College.

"The water sector in South Africa faces serious skills shortages and the learnership programme has equipped the learners with key skills in waste water practice, waste water treatment, mathematics and engineering science. These skills will play a central role in the utility's expansion strategy unveiled earlier this year.

"Of the 140 trainees, 20 were existing Amatola Water employees, while 120 were unemployed youth," says Amatola Water chief executive Nomonde Mnukwa.

Amatola Water has since employed 93 of the 120 youth who were unemployed while the rest have found jobs in various municipalities and government entities following the completion of the course.

Amatola Water director of corporate services Mzwandile Gogwana says the skills acquired in the programme are in dire shortage and are highly sought after throughout the country.

 "Municipalities and water boards are competing to attract the few people who have those skills, that is, learners who have passed matric with maths and science," says Gogwana.

"Amatola Water currently has two female plant supervisors, which is uncommon in the water sector. Youth development and skills training is right on the top of the utility's priorities and we are fully committed to being one of the institutions contributing towards skills development," says Gogwana.

Mnukwa adds that Amatola Water is committed to playing a leading role in addressing the skills challenge and water scarcity in the Eastern Cape.

"Until now", says Mnukwa, "water practice as a discipline has been in short supply in the Eastern Cape, which has led the province sourcing skills from elsewhere in the country.

Twenty-five year old Mthetheleli Ndololwana, who recently completed his training, says when he commenced the training programme in June 2009, he was unemployed after his temporary job in Johannesburg had ended.

"I believe I will go far in developing my skills at Amatola Water because there are many opportunities for advancement. From the beginning of October I have been permanently employed as a class 1 plant operator in Nahoon Dam," says Ndololwana.

A plant operator cleans water and ensures it complies with health standards and is ready for consumers.

Mnukwa says some of South Africa's water challenges stem from a shortage of skills to improve water quality in addition to building and maintaining infrastructure.

"Skills development is the cornerstone to improving the productive capacity of the economy. Water is a source of life and we need skilled people to provide clean water and to protect the lives of our consumers," says Mnukwa.