Technical Talent at National Skills Competition
South Africa’s future is being built by skilled young hands, and technical excellence deserves the same celebration as academic success. This was the message at the 2026 National Skills Final Competition Awards Ceremony in Johannesburg on 4 October 2026, where the country’s emerging technical talent took centre stage.
The Sasol Foundation, in partnership with Kagiso Trust, the Department of Basic Education, government and industry stakeholders, celebrated the achievements of the finalists at an evening attended by Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube, senior government and education representatives, industry leaders, educators and partners.
Technical excellence requires discipline, curiosity, the willingness to learn, to make mistakes, to try again and to keep improving. These are qualities that will serve young people well, wherever their careers take them.”
To the test
The national final brought together 151 learners and 77 teachers from all nine provinces who reached the 2026 national final, celebrating their achievements after more than 17 000 learners participated in qualifying rounds across the country.
Over the previous two days, Grade 10 and 11 learners and teachers competed in 11 practical, industry-relevant disciplines, putting their technical knowledge, precision, creativity, problem-solving ability and practical application of skills to the test.
No hierarchy
“There should be no hierarchy of dignity between these pathways. A country needs doctors and engineers. But it also needs artisans, technicians, electricians, welders, fitters, machinists, mechanics, plumbers, builders and skilled operators. These skills are not second-tier careers. They are essential careers,” said Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube.
Category winners were awarded cash vouchers, tools of the trade and online courses. One lucky winner, Simthandile Mkwanazi in the Construction category was awarded a R250 000 apprenticeship from Resolution Circle.
Building a skills pipeline from school
For South Africa, the importance of developing these skills extends well beyond a two-day competition. As the world of work changes through technological innovation, digitalisation, industrialisation and the transition to a greener economy, so too does the range of skills required from young people. The challenge is not simply to create opportunities, but to ensure that young people are equipped to take advantage of them.
Building that capability needs to start early. The National Skills Competition provides a practical example of what this can look like: identifying technical talent at school level, giving young people opportunities to test themselves against real-world challenges, exposing them to industry and creating greater visibility around technical and vocational pathways.
When knowledge meets practice
South Africa needs to continue rebuilding its technical skills pipeline, not as a short-term programme, but as a sustained pathway that starts at school and connects education with further learning, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship and employment.
“The competition provides young people with an opportunity to demonstrate what happens when knowledge meets practice,” said Minister Gwarube. “A textbook can explain a principle. A classroom can teach a process. But a skilled person must ultimately be able to apply that knowledge accurately, safely and efficiently.”
Not a fallback option
The competition is designed to demonstrate that technical and vocational education is not a fallback option, but a pathway into meaningful and rewarding careers. The 11 categories spanning automotive technology, CAD, construction, digital systems, electrical power systems, engineering graphics and design, electronics, fitting and machining, plumbing, woodworking, and welding and metalwork, reflect the breadth of technical capability required in a changing economy.
For the young competitors, the national final was an opportunity not only to compete, but to build confidence, experience and a clearer understanding of where their skills can take them.
