By Trevor Khuzwayo

Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal – For 51 young South Africans who completed a three-year Diesel Mechanics Artisan Development Programme, skills training has already translated into something tangible — an opportunity to enter the workplace and begin building a career.

This was among the key outcomes highlighted when the National Skills Fund (NSF), led by its Accounting Authority and Director-General of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nkosinathi Sishi, together with Acting Chief Executive Officer Ms Melissa Erra, conducted an oversight visit to Rankin Training Solutions in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal.

Rankin Training Solutions is one of the Skills Development Providers contracted by the NSF to train 60 young people through the Diesel Mechanics Artisan Development Programme over a period of three years.

Of the 60 beneficiaries who participated in the programme, 51 — representing 85% — have been placed with different employers.

The oversight visit provided the NSF delegation with an opportunity to engage directly with beneficiaries, assess the implementation and outcomes of the project and identify any challenges requiring intervention.

For the beneficiaries, the programme provided more than theoretical training. Diesel mechanics is a technical occupation requiring practical competence, workplace exposure and the ability to diagnose, maintain and repair mechanical systems.

Rankin Training Solutions specialises in the recruitment and training of diesel mechanics, earth-moving mechanics, plant mechanics and forklift mechanics and has more than 39 years of experience in mechanical-industry training and development. The training provider is also accredited by MERSETA.

From skills training to employment

The 85% placement rate was welcomed by the NSF delegation as an important indication of the programme’s progress in connecting skills development with workplace opportunities.

Dr Sishi said the outcome demonstrated why skills-development interventions should ultimately be assessed by the opportunities they create for beneficiaries beyond the training environment.

“When we invest public resources in skills development, we must always ask what happens to the learner after training. Seeing 51 of the 60 beneficiaries placed with employers demonstrates the kind of transition we want to strengthen — from training, to recognised skills, to meaningful participation in the economy,” said Dr Sishi.

He emphasised that the NSF still has significant work ahead in responding to South Africa’s skills-development priorities and ensuring that investments contribute towards addressing unemployment and the country’s demand for technical skills.

“Our responsibility is not simply to count how many people enter a programme. We must focus on whether beneficiaries acquire relevant skills, complete their training and are given a realistic opportunity to use those skills in the workplace. That is where the real impact of skills development becomes visible,” he said.

Oversight strengthens accountability

The visit formed part of the NSF’s ongoing responsibility to monitor funded projects and assess progress against approved objectives, including implementation milestones, learner outcomes and challenges that could affect delivery.

NSF Acting Chief Executive Officer Ms Melissa Erra said direct engagement with beneficiaries and Skills Development Providers allows the Fund to better understand whether its investments are producing the intended results.

“Oversight gives us an opportunity to move beyond reports and statistics and engage directly with the people whose lives our funding is intended to impact. When a young person completes artisan training and moves into the workplace, we begin to see the connection between public investment, skills development and economic opportunity,” said Ms Erra.

She said successful implementation also requires accountability from all parties involved.

“We must continue strengthening our monitoring of funded projects, supporting effective implementation and holding our partners accountable for delivering quality training. Ultimately, every rand invested must work towards creating sustainable skills-development opportunities for South Africans,” she added.

Building pathways into the economy

The Rankin programme reflects the importance of artisan development in creating pathways into technical occupations and strengthening the country’s pool of skilled workers.

The visit also demonstrated why placement outcomes matter. Training provides beneficiaries with knowledge and technical competencies, but access to employers enables them to apply those skills, gain experience and establish themselves within the labour market.

For the NSF, the milestone achieved at Rankin Training Solutions therefore represents more than an 85% placement statistic. Behind the figure are 51 beneficiaries who have moved from a three-year training programme into workplaces where their skills can contribute to their livelihoods and the economy.

As the NSF continues monitoring funded interventions across the country, the focus remains on ensuring that skills-development investment produces measurable outcomes — quality training, recognised competencies, workplace opportunities and sustainable pathways towards economic participation.