By Sivuyisiwe Hombile

Gijima Holdings (Pty) Ltd, in collaboration with the National Skills Fund (NSF), initiated a multi-year apprenticeship programme from 1 October 2022 to 31 August 2025, aimed at empowering 75 unemployed youth from Lephalale, Limpopo. With a budget allocation of R16.8 million, the project set out to tackle unemployment in rural communities by equipping learners with accredited technical training and trade certification, creating a pipeline of skilled artisans ready for employment or entrepreneurship in key industries such as Boilermaking, Fitting and Turning, Rigging, Electrical Studies, and Welding.

The project’s focus areas included expanding access to high-quality technical education, reducing youth unemployment in underserved regions, and promoting economic participation and community development through certification and mentorship. Strategically designed to deliver comprehensive, accredited training in priority trades aligned with South Africa’s development agenda, the programme facilitated trade testing to ensure nationally recognised certification, supported sustainable employability through job placement and entrepreneurship pathways, and fostered ongoing growth via mentorship and workplace readiness. In doing so, it furthered the NSF’s commitment to being a catalyst funder.

This initiative saw 63 (84%) of the initial 75 NSF funded beneficiaries complete their three-year artisan training, many of whom were previously not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

This achievement highlights the power of skills development in transforming lives, empowering youth, and equipping them to contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s economy.

As South Africa intensifies its efforts to bridge the opportunity gap in rural communities and advance the National Development Plan (NDP) milestones, this project demonstrates that strategic investment in skills development yields measurable social and economic returns, transforming individual lives while contributing to the broader national economy.

One of the beneficiaries, Sophie Monyeke, who has already secured a job as a welding trainee at AME Solutions in Lephalale, sees herself working in Quality Control soon. “With the NSF’s support, every spark I make isn’t just joining metal, it’s building my future. Thanks to the NSF, I’m turning my passion for welding into a skill that will last a lifetime. I am grateful to the NSF for their funding because my life could have taken a different path.”

This collaboration reflects the NSF’s dedication to rural upliftment through targeted skills development, offering valuable insights for future initiatives. It demonstrates how well-managed interventions can bridge opportunity gaps, empowering rural communities with qualifications, confidence, and sustainable career pathways. In alignment with the NSF’s mandate as a catalyst funder, the programme delivered comprehensive, accredited training in priority trades that respond directly to industry needs and economic growth strategies. It has not only equipped participants with nationally recognised qualifications but also instilled confidence, promoted self-reliance, and opened pathways to meaningful economic participation.