Johannesburg: AfricUpdate – News Desk
In a landmark event during Women’s Month, South Africa officially launched the Just Energy Transition (JET) Skills Desk and National JET Skills Advisory Forum, signalling a strategic commitment to inclusive economic transformation. The keynote address – delivered by Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela, on behalf of Deputy President Paul Mashatile – highlighted that the energy transition is “not just about megawatts” but is fundamentally about people, communities, and equity.
“It must be about ensuring that women, youth and vulnerable groups are not left behind,” Manamela told the attendees at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, on Friday. Today’s launch saw the unveiling of the JET Skills Desk and the National Jet Skills Advisory Forum, two pillars of South Africa’s JET Skills Portfolio. The Minister believes that these structures are not symbolic but are operational instruments designed to close the green skills gap that hinders energy transition, slows competitiveness and risks excluding those most affected by the decline of coal and other traditional industries.
“Through this way, we recognise that skills are the bridge between transition and inclusion to economic restructuring and social justice. As Minister of Higher Education, we are actively aware that the post-school education and training system sits at the centre of this transformation. Universities, TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges, community education centres and industry partners must prepare South Africans, especially workers in vulnerable sectors, for new opportunities in renewable energy, green hydrogen, electric vehicles and sustainable industries.”
Manamela stated that the JET Skills Desk, located within his department, will coordinate the reskilling and upskilling of workers, while focusing on preparing them for opportunities in renewable energy, green hydrogen and sustainable industries. “It will drive reskilling and upskilling of adult workers. It will anticipate skills needs through labour market intelligence. It will strengthen curricular and educator readiness, and align training with industry.” The aim is to also create skills development zones in provinces like Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape.
“Skills are the bridge between transition and inclusion, between economic restructuring and social justice,” Manamela said, underlining the initiative’s broader national significance. The Minister acknowledged that government currently has no dedicated budget line for the transition, emphasising the need for blended funding with public investment leading the way.
“That is why the mobilisation of blended funding is so important. Public investment must lead, private investment must follow, and philanthropic and development partners must catalyse community-based economies,” he said. In the meantime, he said a multi-donor initiative supported by the European Union, Germany and Switzerland, will help catalyse these efforts, demonstrating international confidence in South Africa’s skills agenda.
“We cannot remain in the face of endless research and reports; the time has come to move to implementation and delivery. Therefore, we must focus on building infrastructure, for instance, colleges and universities strengthen entrepreneurship in affected communities.That’s why we have a Minister of Small Business Development here, amongst others, supporting career guidance and train the trainer programmes, creating clear pathways for youth and women in the glacial economy.”
The Minister strongly believes that the initiative aims to empower vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth, ensuring they are not left behind in the green economy transformation. “This is not only a skills agenda, but also a nation-building agenda, as we conclude and move forward to the G20 Summit later this year under South Africa’s Presidency. Let us remember the Just Energy Transition must be measured not only by how much power we install, but how many lives we improve and how many communities we empower.”
On behalf of the Deputy President, Manamela told the delegates that government has pledged its full commitment to ensuring that the JET Skills Portfolio fulfils its promise. “I call on all our partners, public and private, local and international, to act with agency and imagination to ensure that the transition, that this transition is truly just, let us build a greener, fairer and more prosperous South Africa.” he concluded to a round of applause.
