Inter-Departmental Career Choices Expos in Mpumalanga & Eastern Cape

Daggakraal, Mpumalanga — In a concerted effort to dismantle the barriers facing rural learners, the Department of Basic Education, in partnership with provincial and local stakeholders, successfully hosted the Inter-departmental Career Choices Expo this April. The career expo was held at the Spamplek Sports Ground, with Grade 10 to 12 learners from the surrounding schools attending the career expo to enquire about career pathing information. Many learners in Daggakraal, have limited access to career counselling or information, so the exhibitors brought the “city to the village.

Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr. Reginah Mhaule, emphasized that providing information is the first step toward economic freedom. “Our mission is to ensure that a child in Daggakraal has the same access to bursary information and career pathways as a child in Sandton,” Dr. Mhaule noted during the keynote address. Our Mpumalanga team was also present to engage with the learners from Elangwane, Hlelimfundo, Nalithuba and Qhubalwazi Secondary Schools to share information pertaining to the local government sector and the various career pathing opportunities available to them. The Daggakraal Expo concluded with a call to action for the youth to take ownership of their futures. By aligning career guidance with Freedom Month, the DBE reinforced the message that education remains the most powerful tool for personal and national liberation.

KwaBhaca, Eastern Cape — More than 5,000 Grade 12 learners from across the Umzimvubu Local Municipality attended the Career Expo 2026, held over three days at Sophia Sports Ground in KwaBhaca (Mount Frere). The event formed part of a major effort to expand access to education and career opportunities for rural youth. Hosted under the theme “Rural Roots, Unlimited Future,” the expo brought together key stakeholders to provide learners from areas including EmaXesibeni (Mount Ayliff) and KwaBhaca with critical information on post-school opportunities.

The LGSETA was among the organisations participating in the event, delivering comprehensive presentations to attendees over the three days. In addition, LGSETA directly engaged with 1,064 learners who visited its exhibition stall—504 on day one, 183 on day two, and 377 on the final day. Many learners attending the expo had limited prior knowledge of available career paths, institutions of higher learning, and funding opportunities such as bursaries and learnerships. The event provided a valuable platform to bridge this gap, equipping learners with the information needed to make informed decisions about their futures.

Learners responded positively to the initiative, with many expressing increased confidence and motivation to pursue further education. The combination of direct engagement at exhibition stands and presentations delivered to the broader audience ensured a wide-reaching impact. The success of the Umzimvubu Career Expo highlights the importance of collaborative initiatives in addressing information gaps in rural communities.