In his role as Chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council, Deputy President Paul Mashatile will officially launch the Just Energy Transition (JET) Skills Desk, the National JET Skills Advisory Forum and the Multi-Donor Initiative (MDI).
This event will take place on Friday, 29 August 2025, at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Johannesburg. Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela will also be at the launch.
According to the Deputy President’s Office, these initiatives represent strategic milestones in advancing South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and inclusive economy.
“The launch also forms part of the broader JET skills portfolio, which underscores the country’s commitment to coordinated, multi-sectoral action, involving government, organised labour, business, civil society and development partners.
“Inclusion of these structures is for the purposes of ensuring that the energy transition is inclusive, equitable and anchored in a demand-driven approach to skills development,” a statement read.
The upcoming event aims to introduce the key components of the JET Skills governance structure, which includes the JET Skills Desk and the National JET Skills Advisory Forum.
The JET Skills Desk will function as the main coordination hub, located within the Department of Higher Education and Training. Its purpose is to drive integrated skills planning and implementation in line with the country’s energy transition objectives.
On the other hand, the National JET Skills Advisory Forum will serve as a multi-stakeholder platform. It will provide guidance, encourage alignment across various sectors, and promote accountability in delivering the skills necessary for a just transition.
The Presidency said these structures will support the roll out of Skills Development Zones (SDZs), which are localised hubs for focused training and skills development in areas most affected by the energy transition.
“The SDZs will aim to equip individuals with relevant, demand-responsive skills, while promoting local economic resilience and inclusion.”
Mashatile will launch the Multi-Donor Initiative (MDI) on that day, which supports the JET Skills Desk.
This initiative is co-financed by the European Union, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It is implemented under BMZ’s flagship Career Path Development for Employment (CPD4E) programme.
The MDI exemplifies strong international cooperation and South Africa’s commitment to mobilising global and domestic partnerships that support reskilling, upskilling and workforce development to avoid massive job losses.
The official launch also signals South Africa’s readiness to deliver a just, inclusive and demand-responsive energy transition, underpinned by the development of relevant and sustainable skills required by the labour market.
Originally posted on SAnews.gov.za
