How the National Skills Competition is connecting young people, teachers and industry to future opportunities

South Africa’s future will not only be built in lecture halls and offices, but also in workshops, laboratories, classrooms and training spaces where young people learn to make, design, build and solve problems.

From 1 to 2 October 2026, South Africa’s leading school-level technical learners and specialist teachers will come together in Johannesburg for the National Skills Competition final. The event is the culmination of qualifying rounds held at school, district and provincial level, with all nine provinces represented.

The competition is hosted by Kagiso Trust and Sasol Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), TVET colleges, industry bodies and other partners. A platform for learners and teachers to demonstrate their technical ability and are recognised.  Whereby practical problem-solving is celebrated and young people can begin to see where their skills could take them.

Making technical talent visible

More than 17,000 learners haveparticipated in the competition across its school, district and provincial stages. At the 2026 national final, 151 learners and 77 teachers will represent their provinces across 11 technical specialisations.

For Kagiso Trust, this matters because developing human capacity is not only about access to education. It is also about creating opportunities for people to discover their strengths, develop confidence and translate their capabilities into meaningful pathways. Technical and vocational learning has an important role to play in that journey.

A competition built around practical skills, the 2026 final will feature 11 specialisations:

·     Automotive Technology; Computer-Aided Design (CAD); Construction; Digital Systems; Electrical Power Systems; Engineering Graphics and Design (EGD);  Electronics; Fitting and Machining; Plumbing (Civil Services);  Woodworking; Welding and Metalwork.

Behind every skilled learner is leadership

National Skills Competition also recognises the role of leadership. Kagiso Trust introduced a teacher component to the competition in 2022, recognising that strengthening the technical education ecosystem requires investment in educators as well as learners.

This focus extends beyond the competition itself. Initiatives such as the TechSenet SMT (School Management Team) Seminar, aim to strengthen the teaching and learning environment around technical high schools.

The seminar created space for school leadership to engage with the knowledge and approaches needed tosupport learners in a rapidly changing technical and digital environment. Together, these initiatives point to a broader understanding of skills development: equipping the learner while strengthening the people and systems that support their learning.

From local talent to global opportunity

Launched in 2018 by the Sasol Foundation and the Free State Department of Education, the competition has steadily expanded. Kagiso Trust joined the initiative in 2022 and introduced a teacher component. Following expansion to five provinces in 2023, the competition became national in 2024, with participation from all nine provinces.

High-level tasks are designed to build readiness for future opportunities, including the pathway to the WorldSkills Championships. By bringing schools, TVET institutions, industry and government together, the competition also promotes the partnerships needed to align learning with the world of work.

Event details:

Follow Kagiso Trust’s digital platforms for competition updates, participant stories and winner announcements.