In a significant step towards building a future-ready, skilled workforce in South Africa’s energy landscape, the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) and the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on 24 July 2025. This partnership marks a pivotal moment in the country’s journey to develop world-class capabilities in nuclear energy and water, positioning South Africa to meet growing demand, drive innovation, and participate meaningfully in global energy transitions.
The MoU establishes a collaborative framework through which Necsa and EWSETA will work together to deliver high-impact education, training, and skills development programmes. The goal is clear: to strengthen the country’s ability to produce the critical, scarce, and future-fit skills needed in the nuclear and water sectors—sectors that are integral to national development, energy security, industrial advancement, and environmental sustainability.
Key areas of collaboration under the agreement include:
Skills Planning and Forecasting: Joint efforts to map current and future skills needs in the nuclear sector to ensure training initiatives are aligned with emerging industry demands.
Skills Delivery and Workforce Development: Coordinated development of programmes targeting nuclear-specific occupations, including reactor operations, radiation protection, and nuclear engineering.
Enterprise and Career Development: Promoting entrepreneurship, career awareness, and pathways for young professionals through targeted youth development initiatives and support for small and emerging enterprises.
Collaboration with Institutions of Higher Learning: Strengthening academic-industry linkages to drive research, innovation, and curriculum development relevant to the nuclear and water sectors.
By aligning education and skills development with national priorities, this partnership will enhance the country’s competitiveness, facilitate inclusive economic participation, and equip a new generation of South Africans to lead in specialised, high-technology fields.
Speaking on the significance of this collaboration, Necsa Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Loyiso Tyabashe, noted: “Collaborating with institutions such as EWSETA through our Necsa Learning Academy is essential to advancing South Africa’s national and socioeconomic development agenda. This MoU enables us to better define and meet the evolving skills needs of the nuclear sector, ensuring our industry has the capacity to support strategic infrastructure and energy goals.”
Echoing this vision, EWSETA Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Mpho Mookapele, added: “As a Sector Education and Training Authority, our mandate is to contribute to an inclusive, skilled economy. This partnership with Necsa allows us to design and deliver responsive training that empowers young people, supports the growth of the nuclear value chain, and ensures South Africa is ready for the technological future that lies ahead.”
This partnership reaffirms both Necsa and EWSETA’s commitment to playing a catalytic role in advancing South Africa’s nuclear energy and water sectors—unlocking opportunities for skills development, industrialisation, and long-term economic growth.