On 21 August 2025, the Freeport Saldanha Access Complex was filled with pride as graduates from the CHIETA Smart Skills Centre at Freeport Saldanha were honoured.
More than just a graduation, the ceremony marked a milestone in Saldanha Bay’s journey toward opportunity, resilience and growth, said Xola Sithole, Interim CEO of Freeport Saldanha.
“For a community that has long faced the twin challenges of unemployment and a widening skills gap, the Smart Skills Centre is a beacon of hope.”
Established in 2022 through a partnership between CHIETA and Freeport Saldanha, the centre equips young people and entrepreneurs with digital and business skills designed for the workplaces of tomorrow.
“From virtual reality to entrepreneurship training, the programmes are shaping innovators, job seekers, and job creators alike. Business is not just about the physical assets, it’s about the people,” said Sithole, reminding graduates that their skills are the true drivers of local growth.
Already, more than 3 200 learners have been trained through Freeport Saldanha’s initiatives, and many, like this year’s graduates, are finding employment or building their own enterprises.
“Graduates’ voices brought this vision to life.”
Makayla Skei spoke about how virtual reality training taught her to see mistakes as opportunities and inspired her to start a robotics and coding academy.
Zusipe Mpopoma, South Africa’s first to complete her Master Certification in Entrepreneurship, urged her peers to use their knowledge to uplift others and build stronger businesses.
Princess Kgakane, CHIETA’s Executive Manager for Grants and Projects, highlighted the strength of “partnerships with purpose,” reflecting on the collaboration between CHIETA and Freeport Saldanha.
This partnership, formalised in 2022, gave rise to the Smart Skills Centre with a clear mission: to bridge the digital divide and open doors of opportunity for the community. She praised the graduates as resilient and adaptable, qualities that will serve them well in every chapter of their lives.
“Today is the beginning of lifelong learning,” she reminded them, urging each to embrace change with confidence.
Freeport Saldanha’s Board Chairperson Stieneke Jensma echoed this message, noting that the centre’s training is demand-driven, tailored to the skills local employers seek.
The fact that many graduates could not attend the ceremony because they were already working emphasised the programme’s impact.
“For Saldanha Bay, the graduation was more than an event, it was proof of what can be achieved when education, business, and community work together. As graduates step forward, they carry with them not just certificates but the confidence to create change, reminding us all that the future of Saldanha Bay lies in the hands of its people,” Sithole concluded.
