Mpumalanga, June 1, 2023 - Nkangala TVET and RES4Africa Foundation successfully completed the Orientation Day for the Re-skilling Lab, held at the Villa Roma Boutique Hotel in Emahlehleni, Mpumalanga, South Africa. This event brought together 10 lecturers from Nkangala TVET previously capacitated through the Re-skilling Lab training of trainers and lecturers from Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni TVET colleges, providing them with essential tools and knowledge to promote career opportunities in the renewable energy sector to their students.

South Africa, Africa's largest electricity market, gets 77% of its energy from coal, which is being affected by supply shortages, rising prices, and declining energy intensity. To address these concerns and migrate to a renewables-based economy, the nation has set renewables capacity objectives. However, rising renewable resource use brings huge socio-economic challenges, including the skills gap in the workforce. For this reason, RES4Africa Foundation created the Re-skilling Lab, its coal communites’ re-skilling initiative.

The activities consisted of a presentation of the Re-skilling Lab’s objectives and achievements to date, in particular the outcomes of the recently completed training-of-trainers (ToT) to an audience of lecturers from Nkangala, Gert Sibande, and Ehlanzeni TVET Colleges. 10 Nkangala TVET College lecturers were awarded 3 certificates, highlighting their contribution to the Lab's objectives:

1. 1. Engery Performance Practitioner Certificate - Resolution Circle;
   2. Solar PV Rooftop Installer - MSC Artisan Academy;
   3. Train the Trainer - MSC Artisan Academy.

Additionally, industry representatives from SAPVIA, SAWEA, Enel Green Power, and Nordex Acciona Illustrated the main opportunities held by the renewable energy sector. 

The Orientation Day also represented the occasion to put into practice the advancement of Nkangala TVET's workshop: thanks to RES4Africa’s donation of infrastructure, the centre further fortified its capacity to deliver permanent training in renewables within the province. The new equipment includes two inverter systems with photovoltaic panels and batteries, a small wind turbine, and a solar pump. Nkangala TVET College is now equipped to issue formal certifications to students undergoing training, accredited by EWSETA, QCTO, and SAPVIA. 

With the Orientation Day completed, the Re-skilling Lab is ready to embark on its next phase. Starting this June, Nkangala's lecturers will deliver the first set of training activities, under the guidance of Resolution Circle and MSC. The initial group of 25 students will have the opportunity to dive into a comprehensive training journey, spanning 18 to 24 months, with a 6-month internship at a renewable energy company from the RES4Africa network.

"The Re-skilling Lab is not just about acquiring skills; it is about boosting the energy transition with an invaluable resource: the human skills and intuition.", commented Roberto Vigotti, RES4Africa’s Secretary General, "By empowering educators and nurturing the talents of our youth, we are sowing the seeds of a more sustainable future, both in South Africa and in the rest of the continent."

Additionally Simphiwe Mzimela, Trade Test Acting Center Manager at the Nkangala TVET College, stressed on how Investing In local "skills is the solution to poverty, job opportunities and, ultimately, the economic revival".

List of speakers: Cyril Mazibuko (Nkangala TVET College), Marianna Petrosillo (RES4Africa Foundation), Candice Moodley (EWSETA), Lizette Schoombie (Resolution Circle), Willie Gresse (Master Artisan Academy), Mr TD Mahlangu (Nkangala TVET College), Ms CL Nhlabathi (Nkangala TVET College) De Wet Taljaard (SAPVIA), Santosh Sookgrim (SAWEA), Boikanyo Makabolane (Enel Green Power) Zelrese Brair (Nordex Acciona),

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