PRETORIA - A group of 22 female engineering students from South Africa's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges will soon head to India to participate in a solar panel manufacturing and installation training program. The announcement was made by Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, in a media briefing on Friday, detailing the program that starts on May 1, 2024.
According to South African Government News Agency, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD), these students are selected from Limpopo, North West, and Free State provinces. The training initiative is a direct outcome of South Africa’s 2023 chairmanship of BRICS, reflecting commitments made during the BRICS Women in Business meeting. This meeting emphasized empowering women to lead community-based projects and to address South Africa’s energy challenges, especially in rural areas.
Minister Dlamini Zuma highlighted the critical role of electricity in improving quality of life and wellbeing, stressing the government's responsibility to ensure its accessibility. The training program aims to equip the participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the burgeoning field of solar technology.
The initiative enjoys the support of several key organizations, including the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). These stakeholders collectively underscore the strategic importance of renewable energy skills development in the country’s economic and environmental planning.
Additionally, the DWYPD mentioned potential business opportunities for the participants upon their return. The Department, in collaboration with the EWSETA, plans to work with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and the Department of Small Business Development to facilitate these opportunities, enabling the trainees to start and manage solar businesses in South Africa. This approach not only aims to bolster the country’s solar industry but also supports broader goals of gender equality and economic empowerment for women.