Upington – Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), in partnership with Umlilo General Services and a network of committed stakeholders, has successfully concluded the Upington Landscaping Training Programme.
This Socio-Economic Development initiative demonstrates how targeted skills development can translate into meaningful economic inclusion for unemployed youth and community transformation.
The initiative brought together 20 unemployed young people from the Paballelo, Rosedale, and Progress communities in Upington.
Participants received accredited AgriSETA-aligned training and basic business management skills, building competencies in soil science, irrigation systems, occupational health and safety, pest control, horticulture, and landscaping.
This integrated approach ensured that beneficiaries were prepared not only for employment but also for self-employment opportunities.
Youth unemployment remains one of South Africa’s most pressing socio-economic challenges.
Against this backdrop, the nine-month programme has shown how structured, collaborative interventions can restore dignity, build capability, and create sustainable pathways into work and entrepreneurship.
Of the 20 participants, 14 have moved into work since completing the programme, securing placements with local organisations and contractors, contributing to community infrastructure projects, or launching their own small businesses.
Beyond individual impact, the programme has delivered visible transformation within local communities.
A once-neglected illegal dumping site in Upington Ward 4 has been cleaned and transformed into a functional community space.
These improvements represent more than environmental change; they reflect renewed community pride, ownership, and collective responsibility.
“This programme demonstrates the power of partnerships in delivering meaningful, measurable impact,” said Betty Masinge, Senior Manager: Transformation and SocioEconomic Development at ACSA.
“This goes beyond skills development; it is about restoring dignity through real work and real opportunity.
“Each young person who has moved into employment or started a business represents a household uplifted.
“That is what purposeful collaboration between stakeholders can achieve, and Upington is proof of it.”
The programme marks a beginning rather than an endpoint.
The focus now shifts to post-training support and enterprise development, ensuring that the 14 young people already in work or business have what they need to stay there, and that more communities can follow Upington’s lead.
