StarSat boosts local employment and skills development in SA

Johannesburg - In the first quarter of 2024, Statistics South Africa's Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) revealed a notable increase in unemployment. The number rose by 330 000, reaching 8.2 million. The official unemployment rate climbed to 32.9%, an increase of 0.8 percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2023. Conversely, the survey showed a slight uptick in the number of employed persons which grew by 22,000 to 16.7 million over the same period.

Against this backdrop, StarSat, a leading satellite television provider in South Africa, has demonstrated its support for local employment and skills development through innovative initiatives. This includes certifying staff in solar installation to enhance service delivery and mitigate the impacts of load shedding. 

"With a workforce that is 38% female and 92% South African, StarSat supports the livelihoods of over 3,000 people," says Debbie Wu, CEO of OnDigital Media, broadcast licence holder for StarSat South Africa. "Our commitment to empowering communities is reflected in our employment and training programmes, which provide jobs and create pathways for career advancement."

Wu continues, "We believe in nurturing talent from within. Our employees undergo extensive training in various departments, including broadcasting, satellite transmission and content creation, and opportunities for further education and international training."

These investments in employee development have yielded notable successes. Wu explains: "In 2023, an intern from the company's content department was selected for international courses in China, where they excelled and received a prestigious distinction prize."

"This year, we sent our staff from the installation operational department for training to get certificates or degrees in solar installation. This enhances our service because now when load shedding hits, our customers can still watch TV with the solar systems we provide." 

"We also train them to become satellite installers and help them set up small businesses to work for themselves, boosting the township's economic environment. We have developed our business model to create more jobs for young South Africans," Wu adds.

Comprehensive training programmes

StarSat participates in 18-month training programmes that lead to full-time roles for many participants. "We work with groups to find interns who need to complete practical training before getting their full qualification. These candidates are integrated into different departments, mostly in our content and technical departments, for an 18-month short-term training period. After they finish their qualification, we often offer them full-time employment since we have already trained them."

We send our staff to China for international training courses, leveraging our Chinese investor connections. Experts from China are invited to South Africa to train our staff on technology and content creation," Wu shares.

The company's 2021 investment in recording studios facilitated the production of the Zulu-dubbed series Waaris, employing local actors, sound engineers, and dubbing directors. The #InZulu project continues with two shows: Mariana and Scarlett, and the world-famous Brothers novellas.

"We are passionate about showcasing local stories and talents. Investing in local content production and dubbing creates job opportunities for local actors and technical staff and ensures that South African culture is represented and celebrated on screen," Wu added.

Support for independent dealers includes providing satellite dishes and decoders on consignment, which eliminates financial barriers to entry. Comprehensive training in installation, sales, and customer activation enables dealers to earn significant income and contribute to local economies.

Amid South Africa's employment challenges, StarSat proves that corporate responsibility can drive change.