RAND WATER ANNUAL REPORT 2023

INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE Rand Water recognises the importance of continuous learning and development of its employees and has put in place procedures for internal and external training interventions opportunities for all employees. Opportunities are provided for employees to develop themselves through initiatives aligned with the National Qualification Framework (NQF). Training initiatives are designed to improve business efficiencies and productivity. These are clearly upheld and carried out through the legislative imperatives of the Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Plan (ATR) submitted annually to the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA). The targeted learning and development initiatives are designed to provide employees with the competencies, behaviours, and capabilities needed to address organisational challenges identified in the corporate risk register, as well as to comply with applicable policies and relevant legislation. Rand Water has its own training centre, Zwartkopjes Training Centre, situated at Zwartkopjes Site. The centre provides a learning environment that yields a tremendous learning experience and is popular for its outstanding service. The Centre is fully accredited with EWSETA, thus learning programmes are aligned with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and built towards a recognised qualification. Below, training instances completed per occupational level during the year under review are shown. Table 8: Training per Occupational Level COMPLIANCE, CONFERENCES & FUNCTIONAL TRAINING EMPLOYED Female Male Grand Total Professionally qualified and experienced specialists and mid-management 304 210 514 Semi-skilled and discretionary decision making 748 1931 2679 Senior management 19 18 37 Skilled technical and academically qualified workers, junior management, supervisors, foremen, and superintendents 1044 1468 2512 Unskilled and defined decision making 40 35 75 Grand Total 2155 3662 5817 Leadership Development Programmes Rand Water leadership development initiatives aim to equip current and future leaders with critical skill sets, competencies, and behaviours that have a direct impact on the organisation’s key strategic pillars, linked to the organisation’s strategy “Innovation Driven Risk-Based Strategy” as well as to thrive and survive in today’s Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, and Incomprehensible (BANI) world. The ongoing development and implementation of targeted and aligned leadership programmes for Rand Water leaders is crucial for the business to meet its strategic imperatives and successfully contribute to driving organisational and people growth. Leadership development initiatives are programmes specifically designed to enhance and cultivate leadership skills at different levels among employees. These initiatives aim to develop the necessary competencies through the Rand Water leadership ladder of learning. The strategy for designing leadership development programmes involves integrating an action learning framework that encompasses the organisation’s authentic challenges and risks requiring resolution. These initiatives are implemented through institutions of higher learning and business schools.

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