June was an extraordinary month of momentum and milestones at the Institute of Energy Professionals Africa (IEPA) — a time when it proudly hosted, participated in, and contributed to several impactful events that are shaping the future of energy skills development across South Africa and beyond.

On Wednesday, 18 June, IEPA was honoured to welcome Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET’s) Chief Director for SETA Coordination Mabuza Ngubane for a site visit that spotlighted our growing role in developing the skills needed for South Africa’s low-carbon, energy-efficient economy.

Hosted by IEPA  executive director Yolanda de Lange and Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) CEO Mpho Mookapele, the visit served as a high-level engagement to review the impact of EWSETA-funded training programmes delivered by IEPA — all aligned with the national vision for a just energy transition.

From classroom to real-world application, the stories shared by students and facilitators brought the value of practical, inclusive, and outcome-driven training to life. Their experiences reaffirmed the strength of public-private partnerships and the importance of enabling access to green skills through innovation, collaboration and mentorship.

Key Highlights from the Visit

The site visit featured a rich programme of addresses, presentations, and learner testimonials that reinforced the transformative power of technical training in the energy space.

Ngubane applauded IEPA’s contribution to tackling South Africa’s triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. He stressed that TVET Colleges and centres like IEPA are "critical levers of change", producing not just certified individuals, but competent professionals who can operate at both national and international levels.

Citing lessons from the recent Africa Green Hydrogen Summit, he reinforced the importance of investing in people alongside infrastructure to ensure sustainable development in the energy sector.

 "The uniqueness of programmes offered here at IEPA must produce students who solve local challenges and compete globally, " he said.

Mookapele highlighted the importance of skills development as a national imperative, underscoring the success of the IEPA-EWSETA collaboration. She called for continued alignment between training providers and the demands of a fast-evolving energy sector.

 “When partnerships prioritise outcomes, we see young people stepping confidently into the future of work.”

Meanwhile, EWSETA Skills Delivery and Quality Assurance executive Robyn Vilakazi  welcomed the delegation and provided an overview of the day. She emphasised that the growing momentum in energy training requires high standards and shared responsibility for equipping youth with meaningful, sustainable opportunities.

The visit included inspiring reflections from current learners and IEPA alumni:

• Vutivi Vinolia Shivambu, a Mechanical Engineering graduate and IEPA Assessment Manager, completed her Skills Programme back in 2019-2020 towards her International Certification as Certified Energy Auditor (CEA®) and Certified Energy Manager (CEM®)by the Association of Energy Engineers®, demonstrated energy auditing tools — from ultrasonic leak detectors to lux meters — and explained their relevance in Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) compliance.
• Phetahunddi Beauty Tau, a graduate of the EPC Practitioner Skills Programme under the UNDP/EWSETA Mpumalanga Programme, shared how the experience opened new doors in the energy sector. Having completed her training at Nkangala TVET College, she looks forward to expanding her skills in Energy Auditing and helping companies align with compliance and energy goals.
• Nemathithi Khodani Tonic, who completed the Energy Efficiency / Audit Technician (EET) programme, emphasised the value of social and professional workplace skills. Under the mentorship of Albert Williams and Louis Lagrange, Tonic learned the importance of discipline, communication, and continuous learning. Now employed at Energy Cost Savers, he aims to inspire youth in Venda, Limpopo – where he originates from - to embrace sustainable energy and clean communities.
• Agenda Khoza, now a lecturer at Resolution Circle on the EPC Practitioner Programme, spoke of her transformation from student to educator. She recently participated in a Training of Trainers under IEPA’s Skills Development Manager,
• Vera Maditsi, and now mentors others entering the energy space.

Also in attendance was Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) CEO Vijayen Naidoo. He shared learnings from a recent ILO Youth Development Workshop hosted in Italy and supported by GIZ, and acknowledged the success of IEPA’s pilot training model.

South African Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) Energy Efficiency GM Faith Mkhacwa delivered a moving reflection on her early days in energy and the influence of Williams, the lecturer and mentor of Tonic. She praised his enduring commitment to youth empowerment and lifelong learning.

Powering the Future Through Collaboration

This high-impact engagement reflected the collective commitment of government, SETAs, TVET colleges, and training providers to bridge the energy skills gap and unlock opportunity. Through programmes like those delivered at IEPA — and with the support of key development partners such as GIZ South Africa, SECO, and UNDP South Africa — the sector is charting a future rooted in capacity building, employability, and resilience.

At IEPA, skills development is more than policy — it is the engine driving transformation, economic growth, and a just transition for South Africa and the continent.