Pretoria: 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.
According to South African Government News Agency, today’s launch unveiled 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,’ Manamela stated.
As Minister of Higher Education, Manamela emphasized that the post-school education and training system sits at the center of this transformation. Institutions like universities, TVET colleges, community education centers, 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. The JET Skills Desk, located within his department, will coordinate the reskilling and upskilling of workers, focusing on preparing them for opportunities in these emerging sectors.
Manamela further explained that the initiative aims to create skills development zones in provinces such as Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, and Northern Cape. He stressed the broader national significance by stating, ‘Skills are the bridge between transition and inclusion, between economic restructuring and social justice.’
The Minister acknowledged the absence of a dedicated budget line for the transition, underscoring the necessity for blended funding with public investment leading the way. He highlighted a multi-donor initiative supported by the European Union, Germany, and Switzerland, which will help catalyze these efforts, demonstrating international confidence in South Africa’s skills agenda.
Manamela concluded by urging all partners, public and private, local and international, to act with agency and imagination to ensure that the transition is truly just. ‘Let us build a greener, fairer, and more prosperous South Africa,’ he declared, receiving a round of applause from the delegates.