Graduation celebration in honor of the 2025 Wind Turbine Technician Cohort group at SARETEC CPUT.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
“Remember this is an industry, one of growth and opportunity…Take pride in what you do, embrace the challenges ahead, and never forget the incredible power of wind.”
These were the words shared by Dr Fareed Ismail, operations manager for the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC), to the graduates who completed the prestigious training programme.
An intimate graduation ceremony was held at the SARETEC auditorium in Bellville on Thursday, during which several hard-working individuals received their certificates to qualify as wind turbine technicians.
Representing roughly half of this year’s graduating class, seven of the graduating students, who were from local communities, were sponsored by Longyuan South Africa Renewable.
This marks the second group supported by Longyuan, following a previous intake of nine students.
The initiative, driven through the Longyuan Wind Projects based in the Renosterberg municipalities of the Northern Cape, aims to address the growing concern of youth unemployment by building a skilled workforce that is ready to support South Africa’s energy transition.
Head of social sustainability at Longyuan, Fay Cassim, said: “As the SED Head for Longyuan China Energy Renewables in South Africa, I’m proud to share that we’ve supported seven students through the SARETEC program this year. This initiative forms part of our broader commitment to driving social and economic development alongside the energy transition,” Cassim said.
The SARETEC programme, housed at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), is nationally recognised for its hands-on training in wind turbine maintenance and renewable energy systems.
Longyuan’s investment gives students from rural areas—often with limited access to tertiary education—an opportunity to gain highly sought-after technical skills.
Sue-Ann Block, from De Aar, said she did not know what to expect when she first arrived to study, but had initially applied after seeing all the wind turbines.
“Coming here was difficult for someone like me. My trade qualification is an instrumentation technician, which has more to do with electronics and such, but coming here I had to do a lot of electrical and mechanical work.
“I liked it, and went to the wind farms, and now I'm sure I want to be a wind turbine technician,” Block said.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity, and grateful to Longyuan for being a part of our community, and elevating De Aar, and Pixley (municipality) as a whole.”
Another graduate, Philasande Nkamisa, also from De Aar, said he was a solar technician before he came to study.
He explained that he was interested in wind turbines in the area and wanted to find out how they were different from other renewables.
“It’s been a difficult journey, because my being here means that I had to leave my mom alone for a number of months, but I told myself that I’m going to push through, and I’m going to make her proud.
“Having companies like this, like Longyuan, to give opportunities for the community to go and study, and bring back the skills is a wonderful thing.
“We’re grateful to Longyuan for everything that they did for us, as the graduates.”
Director of Longyuan Renewable South Africa, Sheng Bin, said: “Youth unemployment is one of South Africa’s most urgent socio-economic issues. Our support for SARETEC is a strategic step to equip young people with real-world expertise that not only empowers them personally, but also contributes to the long-term sustainability of the energy sector."
The graduates are now eligible to enter apprenticeships, internships, or employment in South Africa’s rapidly expanding renewable energy sector. Many are the first in their families to receive post-secondary training in a technical field.
Cape Argus