The City of Tshwane celebrated 85 newly qualified artisans and officially unveiled an upgraded R18 million plumbing workshop at the Tshwane Leadership and Management Academy (TLMA) on 8 September 2026. The investment demonstrates the City's commitment to skills development, youth empowerment and strengthening its capacity to deliver essential services.
The R18 million investment will enable the City to double its annual plumbing apprentice intake from 15 to 30, helping to strengthen internal capacity to maintain and protect Tshwane infrastructure. The ceremony was attended by the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Ald Nasiphi Moya, the Deputy Executive Mayor of Tshwane and MMC for Finance, Ald Eugene Modise, and the MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Ald Flora Monama.
A total of 85 artisans graduated across seven technical trades, namely diesel mechanic, motor mechanic, electrical, welding, fitting and turning, plumbing and boiler making. Their graduation marks an important milestone in equipping young people with practical skills that can contribute to employment opportunities and the City's service delivery needs.
Mr Thabang Moloi, Director: Competency Development and Training, said artisan development plays a crucial role in addressing unemployment, particularly among young people. "The academy recruits unemployed youth from the poorest of the poor across all regions of the city and provides them with sought after critical and scarce skills that give them an advantage in the labour market as well as being self-employed," said Mr Moloi.
The academy's training programmes are aligned with the City's skills requirements and service delivery priorities. Moloi explained that a comprehensive skills audit conducted by Group Human Capital Management in June 2025 identified critical skills gaps, providing a basis for developing training interventions that respond to the City's operational needs.
Support for graduates continues beyond their qualifications. Through its Work-integrated Learning Programme, TLMA places qualified artisans in relevant service delivery departments according to their trades. These placements are supported by the Artisan Training and Retention Policy, while the academy is also exploring placement opportunities through partnerships with external organisations.
TLMA is set to expand its contribution to skills development, poverty eradication, employment creation and entrepreneurship. According to Mr Moloi, recently approved strategy positions the academy as a critical component of the City's efforts to address unemployment and promote entrepreneurship. The academy plans to increase apprentice intake, introduce trades aligned with the City's mandate and offer technical short courses in areas such as electrical, plumbing, welding and motor mechanic.
Moloi said the initiative forms part of the City's commitment to developing the professional capability of its workforce while creating opportunities for young people to acquire skills that are relevant to the labour market. The graduation of 85 artisans and the unveiling of the upgraded plumbing workshop represent an investment not only in infrastructure and training but also in the City's future workforce and its ability to deliver quality services to residents.