LIMPOPO – A student from Mopani TVET College is celebrating a huge achievement after winning a bronze medal at the prestigious WorldSkills South Africa competition.

The competition took place from Sunday, March 8, to Thursday, March 12, at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and the Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC), where top students from across the country gathered to showcase their technical expertise.

A total of eight students from Mopani TVET College participated in the competition across various disciplines, but Polite Nyalungu stood out, bringing home the institution’s only medal with a bronze finish.

Nyalungu, an engineering fabrication (boiler making) student at the Sir Val Duncan Campus, said the experience was both challenging and rewarding.

“I’m so excited because it was not easy. It was difficult because the machines they were using there were much bigger than the ones I used at my college, but I managed to achieve position number three,” he said.

He competed in welding, demonstrating his expertise across a range of demanding tasks. His project required him to weld in different positions using a GMAW (gas metal arc welding) machine.

He also worked with materials such as stainless steel and aluminium, and completed complex tasks including 5G pipe welding and the construction of a pressure vessel.

“After finishing the pressure vessel, it was tested using a pressure test,” he explained.

Nyalungu’s journey in the competition began in 2024 and culminated in this year’s achievement. Despite his success, he admitted that the competition presented challenges, particularly adapting to unfamiliar equipment.

“The main challenge was welding with a flux core machine because it was my first time using it,” he said.

However, he believes the experience has significantly enhanced his skills and confidence.

“I have grown a lot. Now I can weld using different processes without any challenges. I’m happy because I gained a lot of experience,” he concluded.