SASOL Foundation, Kagiso Trust, and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) co-hosted the 4th National Skills Competition from 8 to 9 October 2025 across five venues — Artisan Training Institute (ATI), FESTO, Modena, John ORR School of Specialisation, and Resolution Circle, the main host sponsor. The event brought together learners, teachers, and TVET students from eight provinces, with the Northern Cape not participating for the second consecutive year. For the first time, TVET college students joined the competition, bringing fresh energy, innovation, and new perspectives to the national showcase.
Dr Cynthia Malinga, Portfolio Manager for Technical Education at Sasol, officially welcomed participants, commending the competition for celebrating technical excellence, innovation, and transformative skills development. She emphasised that learners, teachers, and TVET students represent the country’s future technical talent pipeline and urged participants to use the platform to display their full potential.
Ms Sizakele Mphatsoe from Kagiso Trust, a co-sponsor, conveyed a message of support and reaffirmed the organisation’s continued commitment to the technical-vocational stream, highlighting the importance of partnerships in skills development and sustainable youth empowerment.
Highlighting the broader impact of the competition, Ms Khembo, Director for MST, Curriculum Innovation and E-Learning, cited youth unemployment at 46.1% amongst 15 to 34-year-olds. She noted that the competition supports the MST Strategy and the Three Stream Model by strengthening academic, technical-vocational, and occupational pathways in schools. The initiative helps learners gain practical skills aligned with industry needs and encourages career readiness.
Ms Desiree Letshwiti, Chief Education Specialist for Electrical Technology and Mechanical, and DBE coordinator since the competition’s inception, observed participants across venues and praised their high-quality skills whilst adhering to health and safety protocols. She acknowledged provincial coordinators, subject advisors, and teachers for preparing learners, and thanked the Sasol Foundation and Kagiso Trust technical teams for their support. Ms Letshwiti also highlighted improved provincial participation through uniforms for easy identification, whilst flagging lower girl learner participation and the Northern Cape’s absence as areas for improvement in 2026.
Dr Aron Nkosi emphasised ongoing efforts to strengthen specialisations and focus schools, ensuring learners have access to specialised training and practical resources. A recorded message from Minister Ms Siviwe Gwarube commended teachers for their mentorship, describing the competition as a catalyst for innovation and competitiveness in technical and vocational education.
The event concluded with a gala dinner and awards ceremony, where learners exchanged protective gear for full school uniforms. Winners received vouchers, tablets, laptops, toolboxes, scholarships, and apprenticeship bursaries, while all participants received certificates of participation. As the 2025 competition concluded, learners, teachers, and provinces left inspired, ready to raise the bar even higher in 2026.