Rustenburg Local Municipality and Orbit TVET College have strengthened their working relationship through a collaborative skills development programme aimed at upskilling municipal employees with accredited training.
The initiative follows an internal skills assessment by the municipality, which identified priority training areas needed to strengthen operational capacity and service delivery.
Orbit TVET College, which is based in the municipality, engaged accredited training partners Intellehub People Solutions to support delivery where specific programmes were not available internally.
Joseph Sengooba, NSF project manager at Orbit TVET College, says the partnership reflects the college’s role in responding directly to local development needs.
“This collaboration demonstrates how a TVET college can work practically with local government to address real skills gaps within a municipality,” Sengooba says.
“Our role is to ensure that identified training needs are met through properly structured, accredited programmes that deliver real value to employees and the communities they serve.”
Intellehub was appointed to deliver and manage two accredited skills programmes: Conflict Management (ETDP SETA) and Basic Plumbing (CETA), both of which commenced in July 2025.
The Conflict Management programme was successfully completed in December 2025, with participants receiving accredited certification following formal assessment and verification processes by the ETDP SETA.
A parallel Basic Plumbing programme is nearing completion, with final verification by CETA and certification currently in progress.
Sengooba says the initiative demonstrates the importance of institutional collaboration in skills development delivery.
“Partnerships like this allow us to extend the college’s capacity while maintaining quality, compliance and accountability,” he says. “It is a model that strengthens both institutional relationships and workforce development outcomes.”
John Molefe, ETQA manager at Intellehub People Solutions, says the project highlights the value of structured collaboration between public institutions and accredited private skills development providers.
“Not every skill gap can be met within a single institution,” Molefe explains. “This partnership shows how we can work together in a compliant and coordinated way to deliver relevant, high-quality training that meets national accreditation standards.”
These programmes focused on employed municipal workers rather than unemployed youth (the usual target market for skills development programmes), addressing the need for continuous upskilling and reskilling within local government workforces. Training areas were selected to support both operational service functions and workplace capability, including technical skills and interpersonal competencies.
Molefe adds that the initiative aligns with national shifts in skills development policy. “There is a growing move towards accredited occupational programmes, which require institutions to work more closely with accredited and experienced providers,” he says.
“Being proactive about these changes allows organisations to build capacity sustainably, rather than reacting under pressure.”