Inter-Departmental Career Choice Expo Day 2026 in Mpumalanga - Part 6.

Hon. Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala serves as South Africa's Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, appointed in late 2024, focusing on equity, skills, and job creation. Her department participates in career expos like the Inter-Departmental Career Choice Expo at Daggakraal Thusong Centre to connect rural youth with labor market opportunities, aligning with national goals for unemployment reduction. Department Mandate The Department of Employment and Labour regulates the labor market via key laws including the Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Employment Equity Act, and Employment Services Act. It promotes fair labor practices, employment equity, occupational health and safety, and active job creation to combat poverty and inequality. Engagement with Learners The department hosts career guidance sessions, psychometrics tests for career matching, short skills courses (e.g., plumbing, building), bursaries, and CV registration on the ESSA database at events like expos. They partner with education departments for youth programs like Reading Champions and Curriculum Assistants, emphasizing inclusive education and exit pathways to jobs. Focus on Rare Skills South Africa faces shortages in engineering (over 60,000 professionals needed), IT (software developers, cybersecurity, AI), healthcare (doctors, nurses), and teaching (maths, science). The department prioritizes these via training and expos to build a skilled workforce, including civil, electrical, mechanical, mining engineers, and digital skills. Heart to Heart