Sipping means to drink (a liquid) a little at a time; or to take small tastes of; or to absorb/take in, for example ‘to sip knowledge at its source’. In this instance SIP, as acronym, stands for Strategic Integrated Project; for which and through which scarce skills acquisition is envisaged. Schedule 3 of the Infrastructure Development Act (No 23 of 2014, p. 32) list 18 SIPs.
In 2012, the South African Government adopted a National Infrastructure Plan with the aim of transforming the economic landscape and simultaneously creating jobs and to strengthen the delivery of basic services. The webpage of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), under Special Projects in the green menu bar, the fourth item opens a September 2014 published document titled Skills for and through SIPs, with the subtitle what has been done and still needs to be done to Skill South Africans for SIPs and through SIPs. The ministries of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Economic Development, Public Works, and Public Service and Administration collaborated in identifying the scarce skills needed for the Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs). An invitation is extended for commentary—through the portal https://sip-skills.onlinecf.net—on the recommendations contained in the report. Chapter 14 identifies several ways in which the processes might be taken forward and call to action all stakeholders.
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