To counter a severe engineering shortage in the eThekwini (Durban) Transport Authority, the city's executive committee on Tuesday gave approval to "buy out" engineering students from their loans, the Mercury newspaper
reported on Wednesday.
According to a report tabled before the committee the authority was suffering engineering shortages in "critical areas" that would negatively impact on service initiatives and the city's image.
The department said one of the measures was to buy suitably qualified engineering students out of their student loans, either from companies, banks or the universities themselves. Those students would then be tied to a contract with the municipality for a pre-determined period.
Municipal manager Mike Sutcliffe said the adoption of the policy was one of many measures taken to deal with the staff shortages. Political parties represented on the executive committee unanimously agreed to the principle. It needed final adoption by the full council next week.
