Local community members are accessing wind energy technical training that is sought after not only in the local renewable energy sector, but globally.
One example is Humansdorp local Kanyisa Goveni, who graduated just over a year ago and is now permanently employed as a Wind Turbine Service Technician, servicing wind turbines in Germany. Her rapid career progression demonstrates the quality and international relevance of the renewable energy skills being developed here in South Africa, and the opportunities that specialised, industry-aligned training can unlock for young people.
“The Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm Wind Turbine Service Technician training programme set me up perfectly with the practical and technical skills needed to enter the industry. My hands-on experience and strong understanding of hydraulic, electrical and mechanical processes positioned me well to pursue opportunities both locally and abroad,” said Goveni.
Open to technically qualified young people from communities surrounding Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm, the programme is designed to build on participants’ existing electrical, mechanical or mechatronics qualifications, equipping them with the specialised skills and practical experience needed to pursue careers as wind turbine technicians. The true measure of the programme’s success lies in its graduates’ ability to turn their training into meaningful career opportunities.
“Seeing graduates secure technical roles within South Africa’s renewable energy sector and now seeing Kanyisa take the skills she developed here into an international wind energy environment, is a powerful demonstration of what industry-aligned training can achieve,” said Nonini Makhothe, Economic Development Manager at the Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm. “It shows that when young people are given access to the right technical skills and practical experience, they can compete for opportunities both at home and internationally.”
Since officially joining the team in Germany last month, Goveni has undergone further technical and service training, gaining exposure to new technologies and an international operating environment. Once her training is complete, she will be placed within one of the company’s 11 service regions, with the opportunity to work across different wind farms.
Jan Neuhann, Managing Director at ENERTRAG Service GmbH, explained why he and his team chose Goveni for the role: “Kanyisa’s perseverance, positive attitude and technical background are what convinced us to select her for our Service Technician Relocation Programme. She is only a few weeks into her new role but is already making impressive progress and demonstrating her ability to learn quickly. We are confident that she has the skills and determination to build a successful career within our service team.”
Goveni is one of 10 local young people to have benefited from this industry-specific technical training programme, funded by the wind farm. Many graduates have since gone on to secure internship and trainee positions within the renewable energy sector.
Most recently, 25-year-old Simanyene Blouw took up a position as a trainee Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Technician with global green technology company Envision Energy at its facility in Nieuwehoop, Northern Cape.
“I believe the training I received is exactly what I needed to land the position. I already had a mechanical engineering background, but the programme filled the gap on the electrical side. That combination positioned me well for a role that requires an understanding of both the mechanical and electrical aspects of the equipment,” said Blouw.
