Pretoria Tech College learners win big at Sasol Skills Competition
The learners won awards in Civil Services and Woodwork.
Two Pretoria Technical High School learners scooped up awards at the recent Sasol Foundation and Kagiso Trust National Skills Competition.
The competition took place between August and September at the Advanced Training Institute (ATI), with the award ceremony taking place on October 2.
For the past several years, the competition has sought to increase the number of vocationally trained artisans in alignment with the country’s National Development Plan (NDP) of producing 30 000 artisans annually by 2030.
Learners and teachers from various schools nationwide competed against each other and showcased their skills in welding, woodwork, civil services, automotive, electronics, construction, electrical work and engineering graphics and design (EGD).
On September 26 and 27, the top students and teachers from each province competed for the national awards in each category.
These awards include prizes like apprenticeships worth approximately R300 000 from the Artisan Training Institute and scholarships worth R20 000 from CAD4ALL.
The StemLAB as well as robotics kits, toolsets, courses and vouchers with other prize sponsors including Modena and Old Mutual also gift the award winners.
Representing Pretoria Tech, Amogelang Mathabathe took home third place in the Woodwork category while Manganye Nikiwe placed second in the Civil Services category.
“We at Kagiso Trust recognise that addressing South Africa’s skills gap, particularly in artisanal trades, is essential for the economic empowerment of our youth. By partnering with the Sasol Foundation and the Department of Education in this initiative, we are not only promoting vocational training as a viable career option but also directly contributing to the future of our economy. Programmes like these build a pipeline of skilled individuals who will drive innovation and growth, while also tackling the pressing issue of youth unemployment,” says Dr Mankodi Moitse, CEO of the Kagiso Trust.
In its seven consecutive years running, the competition has the potential to develop the skills of over 10 000 participating learners and teachers.
“An exciting trend which is escalating every year is the number of girl learners who are not only participating but also winning their categories. A trend worth celebrating as more women become skilled in various trades and become more financially independent,” says Gao Mothoagae, Vice President for CSI and the Sasol Foundation.
Mothoagae believes that highly skilled human resources training is critical in ensuring sustainable development in the country.
“As a transformational pathfinder in education fuelling the growth of human potential in the fields of engineering, science and technology, Sasol bridges the skills gap to foster adaptability in a transitioning world. Skills competitions not only raise professional standards but also raise awareness and introduce the potential of a skilled career to a much wider audience,” Mothoagae concludes.
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