The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) has congratulated the Department of Basic Education, the Sasol Foundation, Kagiso Trust and their partners on the successful 2026 National SkillsCompetition, saying initiatives that expose young people to technical skills at school level are critical to rebuilding South Africa's future skills pipeline.

More than 17,000 learners participated in qualifying rounds for this year's competition, with 151 Grade 10 and 11 learners from all nine provinces reaching the national final across 11 practicaldisciplines.

For the RMI, the significance of the competition goes beyond the awards. These young people will soon be making decisions about further education, training and careers, with many potentiallyprogressing to TVET colleges, occupational training and the world of work.

"South Africa urgently needs to rebuild its pipeline of technically skilled young people, and that pipeline has to start at school," says Louis van Huyssteen, National Director: Training at theRMI. "We congratulate the Department of Basic Education, the Sasol Foundation, Kagiso Trust, the teachers, learners and all the industry and education partners who are helping to change perceptions around technical and vocational careers."

He says the automotive industry is one of many sectors that urgently needs this pipeline.

"We need skilled people across the automotive value chain, and some of our most pressing shortages are in specialised trades such as panel beating and spray painting. These are highly skilledoccupations requiring precision, technical knowledge and practical competence, yet they are not always visible to young people when they are considering their career options."

Keeping the pathway open

Van Huyssteen says the challenge now is to ensure that the interest generated at school level translates into further skills development and employment.

"Young people don't necessarily have to wait until they finish matric before they start developing practical skills. Where opportunities exist, short skills courses can give learners valuableexposure to different occupations, help them discover their strengths and give them a head start when they move into further training."

He says this can also help young people make more informed career choices.

"Not every learner will know at Grade 10 or 11 exactly what career they want to pursue. Giving them exposure to practical skills can open their eyes to careers they may never previously haveconsidered."

Automotive careers extend beyond the workshop

Van Huyssteen also wants young people to understand the breadth of opportunities available within the automotive industry.

"Working in the automotive industry does not necessarily mean becoming a motor mechanic or technician," he says. "There are opportunities for people with different interests and strengths – fromvehicle parts and parts interpretation to sales, customer service, administration, logistics, procurement and business development."

"The industry needs both technical and non-technical skills. Someone may have a passion for vehicles but discover that their strengths lie in sales, customer relationships or parts. There isa place for those talents too."

Turning skills into opportunity

The RMI says strong partnerships between government, education and industry are essential to creating a meaningful pathway from learning into employment.

There are already encouraging examples of what this collaboration can achieve. A partnership involving the Free State provincial government and SA Truck Bodies, for example, resulted in 45 youngpeople being trained, with their results verified by merSETA.

"These kinds of partnerships demonstrate what is possible when government and industry come together around a practical skills need," says Van Huyssteen. "We need to see more of them, particularlywhere employers can help identify the skills they need, provide practical exposure and create opportunities for young people to progress into the workplace."

The RMI has consistently highlighted the need to strengthen South Africa's artisan pipeline. Its analysis of Motor Industry Bargaining Council occupational data shows that while registered apprenticeshave increased, the number of qualified artisans across 14 automotive trades declined from 15,936 in 2014 to 11,646 in May 2026 – a reduction of almost 27%.

"This is why initiatives such as the National Skills Competition matter," says Van Huyssteen. "They help us identify talent, change perceptions and demonstrate that practical and technical abilityhas real value."

"But we need to make sure that the pathway doesn't end when the competition ends. We need to connect interested learners to TVET colleges, occupational training, apprenticeships, short skillsprogrammes and ultimately employers."

The RMI believes the National Skills Competition is an important step in changing the narrative around vocational careers.

"We congratulate every learner and teacher who took part, and all the partners who made this initiative possible," concludes Van Huyssteen. "South Africa is not short of young people with talent,ambition and potential. Our collective responsibility is to make sure the pathways exist to turn that potential into skills, careers and productive participation in the economy."