LESENT — A Kathu resident and former bursary student has graduated cum laude with an engineering degree and been appointed as a professional-in-training at a mine in the Northern Cape, highlighting the long-term value of local skills investment.
Local bursary yields technical talent for regional mining
Lesedi Tshedimosetso Thankane (34) completed a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering at the Central University of Technology (CUT) in the Free State and has secured a graduate engineering position at Vedanta Zinc International’s Gamsberg Mine in Aggeneys, novanews reported.
The 18-month-to-longer-term ambition for Thankane is professional registration as an engineering technologist and obtaining a Government Certificate of Competency from the Department of Employment and Labour — a qualification required for engineers working in factories and mines, the report said.
Thankane is one of the Kathu Solar Park bursary recipients. The park’s socio-economic development manager, Sandisiwe Mntonintshi, described the appointment as a milestone that demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted investment in education.
“The appointment of Lesedi, one of our bursary beneficiaries, as a professional-in-training at a mine is a significant milestone and testament to the impact of the programme,” Mntonintshi said, according to novanews.
Thankane attributes part of his success to his early interest in Electrical Technology during technical schooling, which shaped his career choice between becoming an electrician or an electrical technologist. He also emphasised the role that the employing company’s graduate programme plays in early-career development.
“I believe that whilst hard work is a major factor in career success, we rarely talk about how much the company you join matters,” Thankane said in the report.
Why this matters for the Northern Cape
The appointment links two local economic pillars: renewable-energy investment and the mining sector. Kathu Solar Park’s bursary programme is designed to keep skilled graduates in the province and supply industry needs — in this case, technical and engineering capacity for regional mines.
For smaller towns in the Northern Cape, retaining graduates is critical. Skilled professionals support local service delivery, create multiplier effects for small businesses and reduce reliance on labour imported from other provinces.
- Graduate: Lesedi Tshedimosetso Thankane, 34, Kathu.
- Qualification: BEngTech (Electrical Engineering), cum laude, Central University of Technology.
- New post: Professional-in-training at Vedanta Zinc International’s Gamsberg Mine, Aggeneys.
- Support: Kathu Solar Park bursary programme, which funds local students.
Local bursary schemes often aim to address both skills shortages and unemployment. In this instance, the pathway from bursary funding to employment at a nearby mine is an example of an outcome that donors and communities seek.
| Stage | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Technical schooling interest | Motivation to study electrical engineering |
| University study (CUT) | Graduated cum laude |
| Bursary support | Financial assistance and local linkage |
| Employment | Graduate placement at Gamsberg Mine |
Practical implications and next steps
Thankane’s immediate goal is professional registration and acquiring the Government Certificate of Competency. For other students and local stakeholders, the case underlines a few practical points:
- Companies offering structured graduate programmes can accelerate career progression for bursary beneficiaries.
- Local bursaries tied to regional industries increase the probability that graduates will find relevant employment nearby.
- Early interest and appropriate high-school subjects remain critical in shaping post-school career trajectories.
While this is a single success story, the pathway it illustrates — from a locally funded bursary to a technical role at a nearby mine — is instructive for policymakers, funders and community leaders aiming to grow the province’s professional skills base.
Novanews provided the details of the graduation and appointment. The wider pattern of bursary-funded graduates entering regional industry will be a measure to watch as the Northern Cape seeks to expand employment and technical expertise within its borders.
