For thousands of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates, the long wait between finishing their studies and holding their certificate is coming to an end. The Department of Higher Education and Training is rolling out digitised systems to accelerate certification and workplace placements, Deputy Minister Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube announced at the Esayidi TVET College graduation ceremony, held at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday, SAnews reports.
“We are actively developing and rolling out digitised, fast-tracked systems for both certification and placement — systems designed to close the gap between the day you complete your final assessment and the day that certificate is in your hand, and a workplace opportunity is within your reach,” Dube-Ncube told graduates.
A Certificate in Hand, a Future in Motion
The Deputy Minister was frank about why the reforms matter: “A delayed certificate is a delayed livelihood, and a delayed placement is a delayed future. Young people cannot be asked to wait indefinitely for a system to catch up with their qualifications. We are fixing that because our graduates deserve nothing less.”
Quicker certification will not only improve access to employment, she said, but also enable aspiring entrepreneurs to register businesses, apply for funding and take part in procurement opportunities without unnecessary administrative delays.
She encouraged graduates to see their qualifications as “start-up capital” for establishing businesses in sectors such as electrical contracting, welding, bakery, agriculture and construction.
Colleges at the Heart of Growth
Dube-Ncube reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening the TVET sector, describing colleges as central to South Africa’s economic growth agenda.
“There is no credible pathway to inclusive economic growth in South Africa that does not run directly through colleges like Esayidi,” she said.
With the country facing shortages of artisans, technicians and other mid-level technical skills, she called for stronger partnerships between colleges and industry, and challenged TVET institutions to become centres of applied innovation: “A TVET college that only follows industry will always be one step behind. A TVET college that also leads on applied research and problem-solving becomes a genuine partner in South Africa’s innovation economy.”
‘Rural Does Not Mean Limited’
The Deputy Minister pushed back firmly against perceptions that rural colleges produce graduates with limited prospects, noting that institutions like Esayidi produce highly skilled graduates whose qualifications carry the same national recognition as any other in the country.
“Rural does not mean limited. It means resourceful,” she said, urging the class of 2026 to embrace lifelong learning as artificial intelligence, big data and automation reshape the world of work. “The qualification you receive today is a strong foundation — it is not a finish line.”
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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