The provisional stage of the 2025 National Skills Competition – a nationwide platform designed to showcase and strengthen South African youths’ technical and vocational talent – has been launched by energy and chemicals company Sasol’s education-focused initiative Sasol Foundation.

The competition is held in partnership with poverty alleviation organisation Kagiso Trust, the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education and Training.

“The Sasol Foundation has been a driving force behind the competition since 2018, investing in technical and vocational education to help close South Africa’s skills gap. By supporting learners, teachers and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) students, Sasol is building stronger communities and contributing to the country’s future workforce,” said Sasol Foundation head Tshamani Mathebula.

This crucial stage of the competition brings together learners, teachers and TVET college students from across all nine provinces as they showcase their skills in a range of disciplines. It represents an important milestone in identifying the country’s top technical talent, while giving participants the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in real-world, industry- relevant tasks.

The provisional rounds are the foundation of the National Skills Competition. They provide a platform for provincial champions, learners, teachers and TVET students to compete within their own regions before progressing further in their skills development journey.

By competing at this level, participants are not only testing their technical expertise but also building confidence, developing problem-solving abilities and learning to operate under pressure, all essential qualities for success in the workplace and beyond.

“As Sasol Foundation, we believe in creating opportunities at every level, because that is how we transform potential into excellence,” said Sasol human resources and corporate affairs executive VP Charlotte Mokoena.

Competitors, Categories

This year’s provisional competitions are open to learners from technical schools countrywide; teachers who play a critical role in shaping technical education; and TVET college students from centres of specialisation.

Participants compete in a variety of specialisations, including in automotive, fitting and machining, welding and metalwork, electrical power systems, electronics and digital systems, bricklaying and civil construction, plumbing and civil services, woodworking and rigging, engineering graphics and design and computer-aided design.

The inclusion of both learners and teachers in the provisional stage is a defining feature of the competition. Teachers are not only mentors but also participants in their own right, competing in specialised categories that highlight their knowledge and teaching capabilities.

At the heart of the provisional competitions is the focus on practical, hands-on skills. Tasks are drawn from real-life, industry- based scenarios. This approach strengthens the link between education and employment, helping to close the gap between what learners are taught and what industry requires.