INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME EXPANDS, BOOSTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL YOUTH
Kathu, Northern Cape –November 2024
Just over a year since its launch Kathu Solar Park (KSP) has announced the [30%] expansion of its internship programme following a highly successful first year. The programme, which has provided invaluable training and practical experience to local unemployed graduates, has now welcomed additional interns, aimed at providing experiential training opportunities for local community youth and enhancing employability in South Africa’s renewable energy sector.
“The programme integrates job-specific training with essential personal and interpersonal skills development. This holistic approach ensures that interns are well-prepared for the professional challenges they will face in the renewable energy sector, equipping them with the skills necessary for long-term success and addressing the critical skills gap in this sector,” said Sandisiwe Mntonintshi, Economic Development Manager for Kathu Solar Park.
The impact of the initial pilot cohort have been assessed, leading to the decision to broaden the programme and increase participant numbers. This decision underscores the organisation’s dedication to community growth and its vision for a sustainable future driven by skilled local talent.
Speaking to one of the new interns, Cwenga Mtshatsha (24) who hails from Kathu and has a BCom degree in Accounting and Finance, shared his excitement about the opportunity, “I aim to learn more about the energy industries inner workings such as regulations and investment strategies. While also improving my experience and competency in the financial field.”
The programme, which supports both Kathu Solar Park and Kathu Operations, blends rigorous technical training with personal development, offering interns opportunities to contribute to high-level projects and engage in critical decision-making processes. For instance, Socio-Economic Development interns have had the chance to lead several impactful projects during their tenure, gaining valuable insights into performance reporting and strategic planning.
Technical interns participated in a major maintenance outage involving the steam turbine—a vital component in converting thermal energy into electricity. Through hands-on tasks across the plant, they developed problem-solving abilities and gained a deeper understanding of plant operations, building essential skills along the way. This initiative thus empowers young, unemployed graduates with both the technical expertise and life skills required to succeed in the renewable energy sector.
“The internship programme has surpassed initial expectations in its first year, with strong results that prompted this expansion. By bringing in more local graduates, we are able to support the renewable energy sector’s goal of fostering local expertise and skills, with a focus on graduates from the John Taolo Gaetsewe District,” concluded Mntonintshi.
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