Printing SA awards only a limited number of individuals an honorary membership in recognition of their outstanding contribution towards the industry. The organisation recently awarded the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mduduzi Manana, honorary membership in recognition of his work in promoting artisanry in South Africa at the Jamboree week of print, which was held at Gallagher Convention Centre.
The Minister’s work includes that of his campaign, The Decade of the Artisan, which has highlighted the printing trade to the community at large and elevated awareness to growing the industry.
Advocate Ismail Molale (Senior Official of the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Office was in attendance to accept the award on behalf of the Deputy Minister and stated that, ‘The Minister is indeed humbled at the receipt of this honorary membership from Printing SA, an organisation that has been in existence since 1911, and who tirelessly supports the printing industry at large. These are challenging times in South Africa with high levels of unemployment and poverty, and the department understands that there is a real need to grow this sector.’
Steve Thobela, Chief Executive of Printing SA, said, ‘I’m delighted to announce the awarding of this honorary membership to Advocate Ismail Molale on behalf of the Deputy Minister Manana. Minister Manana is an outstanding public servant who has driven forward a series of campaigns to highlight this industry in order to secure more financial powers for the province and to strengthen the economy. We appreciate his stewardship of driving an industry that employs about 45000 individuals and contributes close to 2% of the GDP of our country, as well as supporting about 126 trades of which 30 of these are in the printing and packaging industry alone; many of the values and professionalism that Printing SA promotes. His honorary membership is richly deserved.’
President of Printing SA, Stephen van der Walt said, ‘We as an organisation realise the importance of young people entering into this industry and developing their skills in order for us to grow the industry as well as be competitive. The print industry will always have a place within the broader economy and is becoming an important catalyst for entrepreneurship and growth of small to medium businesses as well as job creation.’
