Wetskills-SA (Gauteng) 2025 – Blog 4 –
Some days simply stick with you, not because they are not grand or dramatic, but because they remind you why you chose to do what you do in the first place. We kicked off the morning with an energizing session led by Mr Craig, whose words were more than just technical insights, but also a call to purpose. Often, a call to present leaves knees knocking, nerves at the edge of their seats, and the imagination running wild. However, today, positivity filled the atmosphere as all groups presented their action plans. A little nudge, a pat on the back, that you are on the right track, is an instant confidence booster. He spoke passionately about innovation, sustainability, and the power of youth-driven solutions in South Africa’s water sector. His words resonated deeply with all of us, setting the perfect tone for the day: “Just because something is broken doesn’t mean it has lost its purpose, sometimes being broken is part of its purpose.”
Resource Quality Information Services (RQIS) Site Visit
Stepping into the (RQIS) felt like entering the heartbeat of water safety. It’s easy to take things for granted, the air we breathe, the water, the soil, the birds in the air, the seen and the unseen… today truly opened our eyes to the many intricate lives that ensure water quality, that monitor our water systems. The realization that normal, ordinary people, like anybody else, someone else’s mom, brother, sister, really is a valuable component to a system.
The tour showcased advanced water testing, from chemical analysis to microbial detection processes that ensure the quality and safety of the nation’s most essential resource. The precision and dedication of the lab technicians were truly inspiring. Seeing the rigorous testing behind every drop of water gave us a deeper appreciation for the systems that sustain our communities.
Faces – new connections made
It’s quite humbling to realize, as we post pictures and write up this blog, just how even in this Wetskills program, we are intricate parts of a system… The faces, different backgrounds, brilliant minds… the connections made, friends we stand to keep. Perhaps one day one will call a friend “hey, I am in Lesotho, lets catch-up!” or “hey, congratulations of the policy framework you amended” or “congratulations on your PhD” or “hey I am in Limpopo, or Zim, or Jozi”… and these will be easily uttered, with a smile and purest intent, because one would be confident, that a brotherhood or sisterhood was established in Pretoria, Roodeplat Dam, at the 2025 Gauteng Wetskills program.
Blog by Qenehelo Mahamo and Tokollo Sithole
