As South Africa accelerates the expansion of its critical minerals sector – including plans to unlock an estimated R40 trillion of iron reserves – skills development has become a cornerstone of its long-term development strategy. Targeting R2 trillion investment over the next five years, the country believes that a well-trained workforce not only enhances operational efficiency but also strengthens investor confidence, positioning South Africa as a globally competitive hub for critical minerals investment.
Skills Development and National Critical Mineral Strategy
Enhancing skills development supports South Africa's broader agenda of expanding employment opportunities and strengthening economic resilience, while harnessing mineral wealth into local industrialisation. The country aims to tackle youth unemployment by creating opportunities for 1.8 million youth by 2030. As one of South Africa's largest employers, supporting approximately 900,000 jobs, the mining sector plays a key role in achieving this goal.
In his February 2026 State of the Nation Address, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the expansion of public employment programs, including the Community Work Program and the Presidential Employment Incentive, to provide skills development and employment for youth and women. Ramaphosa said, “For too many people, life remains difficult. Jobs are scarce and opportunities are out of reach.”
The expansion of these initiatives and the country's 2030 youth employment target closely aligns with South Africa's Critical Minerals Strategy, which prioritizes human capital development as a key enabler of industrial growth and energy transition objectives.
International research collaboration strengthens long-term skills ecosystem
A major boost to workforce development in critical minerals was announced in mid-February through a partnership between the European Union (EU) and South Africa's Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. The initiative includes €2 million funding from the EU to establish a dedicated platform to strengthen skills development and research and workforce preparation across the critical minerals and battery value chain.
Part of the EU's broader Clean Trade and Investment Partnership, under which €15.5 billion has been committed to strengthening South Africa's critical minerals sector, the Skills Initiative aims to:
- Expand technical and vocational education and training institutional capacity
- Provide specialized training related to battery minerals, refining and recycling
- Facilitate internships and work-integrated learning placements with industry partners
- Create employment pathways for graduates entering critical minerals industries
Complementing government and multilateral initiatives, private sector players are also investing in workforce development. In mid-February, mining major Anglo American announced plans to establish a Global Institute of Critical Minerals Research, bringing together universities and research institutes from South Africa, the UK and other global mining centres.
“We want to contribute to South Africa’s agenda of empowering the next generation of miners while unlocking the country’s full mining potential,” said Anglo American CEO Duncan VanBlade.
With South Africa leading the global production of platinum group metals, manganese and chrome – and now seeking to unlock its untapped iron ore potential – the strategic skills development initiative will strengthen the country's position in the emerging critical minerals sector.
African Mining Week 2026: Promoting cooperation and investment
Against this backdrop, the upcoming African Mining Week conference in Cape Town on 14-16 October is set to play an important role in taking forward the dialogue on workforce preparation, investment and strategic partnerships. The event will convene policymakers, mining companies, academic institutions and global investors to assess Africa's preparedness to meet the rapidly growing global demand for critical minerals, which is projected to quadruple by 2040.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.