Hon Acting Speaker, it has been found by a tourism sector skills audit that there is a scarcity of chefs, and more specifically black chefs, in the tourism sector, possibly due to the fact that South African chefs are in demand in the world's kitchens, as they have a reputation for being well trained and hard-working.
The department in partnership with the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority and the SA Chefs Association, has therefore implemented training interventions targeted at improving skills in the sector with the aim of creating a competitive skills base. This is known as the National Youth Chefs Training Programme.
According to the latest available figures, 545 young persons have graduated as chefs, and 120 have already been placed with established hospitality institutions, such as hotels, bed-and-breakfast establishments and restaurants. Many of the 545 graduates have been enrolled for second-level training and, owing to the success of the programme, another 500 young people have been enrolled for the first time. I thank you, Acting Speaker. [Time expired.] [Applause.]