SEDIBENG. – Ekom’s Lethabo Power Station in conjunction with Sedibeng Training Centre launched the 2023 Eskom Skills Development Program. The program will see about 60 youths from in and around Sedibeng District acquire the skills to work in the energy fields.

The launch was attended by Eskom officials as well as staff from Sedibeng Training Centre. Phumzile Maphalala from Lethabo Power Station says that they received numerous complaints from members of the community they serve. She stated that some of the complaints alluded to the company employing people from outside the region.

Maphalala adds that stakeholders agreed that there was a skills shortage in Vaal. “We then decided that as a company we need to give back through a skills development campaign and ensure that communities benefit from Lethabo. We began to look at some of the resources that contractors need when they are working on-site, the ones we agreed to are the resources we will be equipping these learners. The learners are going to become a feed that is needed to supplement capacity.”

Various speakers who attended the event urged the young people to seize the opportunity they have been presented with through the program in order to become employable.

“A lot of young people are unemployed and sometimes, this is caused by the fact that they lack the skills required to work in some of the fields that have employment opportunities. This is a chance for all of you to upskill and change your lives by becoming employable.”

Sedibeng Board member Oupa Modikoane says: “We hope that today is the beginning of our journey as partners. We are here because we believe in the youth and in a future for our youth. I hope that from today, you will all focus on the future. Most of the students of higher education in the Vaal are from outside the region.

“You are the ones that are going to determine whether there is a future for this program. Our vision is to position ourselves at the forefront of skills training. The country needs the kinds of skills that we provide here. You are at the core of what the industrial revolution needs, expand your minds and study beyond the classroom.” he said.

The training which has commenced will take a duration of 6 months.