About 101 selected participants from Chris Hani West and Joe Gqabi districts took part in a financial training held at JJ Serfontein School in Queenstown on 13 – 14 September 2017.

The training simultaneously took place in Buffalo City Metro Municipality and will continue in Nelson Mandela Bay District on 15 September 2017.

The Eastern Cape Department of Education Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) section together with sister Department of Public Works saw it fit that the selected few of the following participants, school safety patrollers, support staff, School gardeners and hostel cleaners be taught how to best administer their finances as most of them find themselves not able to.

Simon Mohapi, facilitator from Mohapi Group based in Johannesburg in his opening address explained to the participants the role of the Financial Services Board (FBS) and how best it can work for them. “The FBS is an independent institution established by statute to oversee the South African Non-Banking Financial Services Industry in the public interest” he further said that “its mission and vison are to provide and maintain a sound financial investment in South Africa”

Hefurther said that “the FSB is there to ensure that departmental officials are treated fairly by the financial services providers they deal with and that they enjoy a safe investment environment. The FSB oversees the non-banking financial services industry, which includes retirement funds, short term, long term insurance, companies, funeral insurance, schemes and financial advisors & brokers”.

The training mainly focused on the following:

• Managing Your Finances
• Savings
• Credit Records & Credit Bureau
• Planning for the future and Emergencies
• Useful Contacts

• “It is very important that each one of us focuses on our financial status so that we don’t find ourselves in financial woes at a later stage in life. It’s time for us to be in charge and be control, it’s never too late,” concluded Mohapi.

  Andisiwe Menzelwa from Joe Gqabi said, “I’m glad I came here today. I learned a lot and will take into consideration everything I’ve learned and change my life for the better.”