Community skills development succeeds when business, local government and communities work towards a shared goal. Committed leadership, active stakeholder involvement, credible training providers and determined learners all play a part. For adults returning to education, encouragement from family can also make the difference between giving up and reaching the next milestone.

Pan African Resources’ Mogale Tailings Retreatment (MTR) operation in the West Rand District Municipality, Gauteng, is demonstrating how these elements can create pathways to further education and vocational training. Six young adults recently graduated with Adult Education and Training (AET) Level 4 certificates, overcoming a fundamental barrier to skills development.

The graduates received their certificates at a ceremony attended by family members, MTR management, Mogale City Local Municipality, project steering committee representatives and Triple E Training. All six have since registered for a bricklaying learnership facilitated by Corobrik, opening a pathway into a trade where skilled workers are in demand. Bricklaying is an important trade skill in South Africa’s construction sector, supporting the development of a stronger pipeline of artisans.

Strong partnerships to solve unemployment

Local government and business each have a role in addressing unemployment and expanding access to skills development.

Mogale City Local Municipality Speaker of Council, Councillor Doreen David, emphasised the importance of collaboration.

“Government cannot do it alone,” she said. “We need strong partnerships with companies, training providers and community organisations to ensure communities have opportunities for skills development.”

She encouraged more businesses to invest in young people and unemployed residents, noting that practical skills “can strengthen communities and contribute to sustainable development”.

More than 50 community members have already completed various AET levels through MTR’s programme, exceeding the human resource development targets in its Social and Labour Plan (SLP).

Local leadership and management drive success

At MTR, ward councillors serve on the project steering committee, linking the programme to the communities it serves. Thembinkosi “Thembi” Zulu, MTR’s Community Stakeholder Engagement Officer, described engagements with councillors as meaningful and fruitful.

“Their participation is a significant contributor to the programme’s success,” she said.

Zulu also acknowledged MTR General Manager, Oriel Shikwambana’s commitment, stressing the importance of management support. “Management buy-in is essential to turning plans into action and sustaining the commitment required to deliver results,” she said.

Accredited training builds a foundation for progress

Training quality is equally important. When MTR first engaged Triple E Training approximately three years ago, it was the only Umalusi-accredited provider able to offer the required AET programme, enabling the initiative to proceed.

Under the supervision of Mlondolozi Makuni, an experienced skills development specialist with AET expertise, Triple E Training helped learners acquire the foundational knowledge needed for further education.

Marco Maree, a training and development expert at Triple E Training, praised MTR’s commitment to the initiative.

“Three years ago, MTR had the passion and a plan to make this happen,” he said. “It is encouraging to see a company demonstrate such sustained commitment to skills development and creating opportunities for its community. Thank you for seeing this through and investing in these learners’ futures.”

Maree noted that completing AET Level 4 in approximately 10 months was a remarkable achievement, reflecting the graduates’ commitment and the support they received throughout the programme. The qualification opens doors to further opportunities, including progressing towards matric, pursuing learnerships and enrolling in skills programmes. Graduation, he emphasised, marks the beginning of the next stage of learning, not the end.

Determination and support sustain progress

Returning to education as an adult requires perseverance, particularly when learners must balance studying with family responsibilities and other demands. Shikwambana recognised the courage shown by the graduates.

“Returning to education as an adult takes exceptional courage. Many of you have families to support, responsibilities to carry and challenges to overcome. Yet you have chosen to believe that your future could be brighter. You have reminded us that education has no age limit, dreams have no expiry date, and it is never too late to write your story,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of their fellow graduates, two learners thanked MTR and Triple E Training for the opportunity, emphasising that the knowledge they had gained could never be taken away from them. They acknowledged that without the partnership between MTR and Triple E Training, the group would not be celebrating this achievement. Completing AET

Level 4 had given them the confidence to continue their education and pursue further opportunities.

They also stressed the value of teamwork, mutual support and respect, expressing hope that these principles would continue to guide them beyond the programme.

Family members joined the graduation celebration, recognising the important role of support networks in helping learners persevere. When one person gains access to education, the benefits can extend to the whole household and wider community.

Building a legacy through skills and opportunity

For Shikwambana, the programme reflects MTR’s responsibility to create value beyond its mining operations.

“We recover valuable resources from the ground, but, more importantly, we want to create value in people’s lives,” he said. “We want MTR’s legacy to be measured not only by what we recover from the ground, but also by what we build above it: human potential, dignity, opportunity and hope.”

He added that educating one person could empower a family, while investing in skills could help transform communities. “The life of a mine may be measured in years, but the impact of education can last for generations. This is the legacy we want to leave behind,” Shikwambama said.

He encouraged the graduates to build on their achievement. “Walk out of here with confidence. Dream bigger, aim higher, and never allow your circumstances to define your destiny. Your success is our community’s success, and your future is worth investing in.”