The global mining sector faces a growing shortage of skilled professionals, and South Africa is no exception. This challenge is compounded by a persistent gap between mining education and the evolving demands of modern mining operations, limiting the industry’s ability to build a future-ready workforce.
In South Africa, the challenge is intensified by high youth unemployment. At the beginning of 2025, 46.1 per cent of individuals aged 18 to 35 were unemployed, up from 36.9 per cent in 2015, according to Statistics South Africa. This underscores the need for targeted skills development and clear employment pathways.
Investing in the future
The Tshipi manganese mine, located in the Kalahari Manganese Field in the Northern Cape, is investing in skills development within its host communities to support local participation in the mining sector.
Career development opportunities supported through Tshipi include pathways in finance, engineering, geology, surveying, mining, mineral processing and human resource management. These opportunities are designed to provide practical entry points into the mining industry and support longer-term career progression.
In FY25, Tshipi delivered a structured Skills Development Program, providing 126 bursaries, internships and learnerships to participants from surrounding communities. Over the same period, eight participants transitioned into permanent employment at Tshipi, strengthening the local talent pipeline and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
The learnership program
Tshipi’s learnership program is designed to support members of local communities through formal qualifications combined with practical, work-integrated learning. The program is structured, targeted and locally focused, prioritising youth within the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality.
Each learnership runs for one to three years and includes on-the-job training alongside modular learning aligned with nationally recognised qualifications. Participants receive a stipend to support financial independence, with mentoring and workplace support provided throughout the program.
In FY25, Tshipi offered 21 learnerships. Among the participants were Ontlametse Gaelesiwe and Kgatlhiso Dibakwe, who were previously unemployed and considering alternative study pathways. Both were attracted to the program by the opportunity to gain practical mining experience and pursue long-term careers in the sector.
Today, Ontlametse and Kgatlhiso are employed full-time as plant operators and actively support new learners entering the program.
Additional learners are now enrolled across disciplines including occupational hygiene, boiler making and instrumentation mechanician, further expanding the region’s skills base.
Meaningful impact
By developing a pipeline of skilled local talent, Tshipi is strengthening its workforce while supporting employment pathways for young people in its host communities. The learnership program reflects a practical approach to shared value, where operational capability and community development are progressed together.
Read more about the Tshipi manganese mine.
