By Honest Sihlango (Communication Officer)
The National Skills Fund (NSF) hosted a Risk Management Training Workshop for Risk Owners, Risk Champions, and Alternates at the Manhattan Hotel on 22–23 January. The training was facilitated by Fachs Business Consulting and Training as part of the NSF’s ongoing efforts to strengthen governance and embed a culture of proactive risk management across the organisation.
The two-day workshop focused on practical approaches to identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks, while reinforcing the critical responsibilities of risk role-players in protecting the organisation’s mandate and public resources.
During the training, officials engaged in practical activities directly related to NSF operations. These hands-on exercises allowed participants to apply risk management principles to real workplace scenarios, encouraging collaborative problem-solving and deeper understanding of how risks can be identified, assessed, and mitigated within their respective units. The exercise also fostered knowledge sharing and reinforced the importance of integrating risk management into everyday decision-making processes across the organisation.
Participants emphasised the importance of embedding risk awareness into the NSF’s everyday work ethic. The discussion reinforced the view that a strong risk culture should guide daily operations, with a shared commitment to learning from past experiences and continuously improving how risks are managed in delivering on the organisation’s mandate. Practical examples were also shared, of how risk considerations can be built into routine processes, from project planning to performance monitoring. The session encouraged staff to take collective responsibility for identifying potential risks early and addressing them proactively.
This collective reflection underscored the NSF’s dedication to accountability, transparency, and ongoing improvement. The training further promoted open engagement and collaboration among business units, ensuring that risk management becomes an integral part of planning, decision-making, and overall organisational performance.
Through initiatives like this, the NSF continues to build internal capacity and strengthen its systems, ensuring more resilient and responsible programme delivery in support of skills development in South Africa.
Advocate Sidimela emphasised that “Effective risk management is the foundation of good governance. As the NSF, we must continuously strengthen our systems, empower our people, and ensure that risk awareness becomes part of how we plan, make decisions, and deliver on our mandate.”
In strengthening the capacity of its risk owners, champions, and alternates, the NSF is taking deliberate steps toward building a resilient, accountable, and forward-looking institution. By embedding risk management into everyday operations and decision-making, the NSF is not only safeguarding public resources but also reinforcing its commitment to transparency, good governance, and continuous improvement. Initiatives such as this training reflect the organisation’s determination to learn, evolve, and deliver on its mandate with integrity and excellence in service of South Africa’s skills development goals.
