A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD!

Mzwandile Radebe didn’t have a sense of where he wanted to go in his career until he completed his Motheo Academy Learnership.

When Mzwandile Radebe (24) left Ladysmith in KwaZulu Natal, he had no real idea about what he wanted to do with his life. “I didn’t have a clear goal but I heard that there were jobs in Johannesburg. I wanted to be closer to those jobs so that I could be self sufficient and able to help my family,” he says. He settled in Jeppestown where there other people from his hometown and other places in KwaZulu Natal. He spent the bulk of his time there unemployed. “Even though people said there were a lot of jobs, I noticed that a lot of people did not have work and I didn’t want to be stuck in that position for long.” While he was still unemployed, Mzwandile heard about an opportunity to study and work in construction. “I wasn’t sure if I was the kind of person they were looking for but I wanted to try. I applied and was very grateful when I was chosen,” he says. Mzwandile believes his ability to take instructions and execute them well is one of the reasons he was offered a job once the learnership was completed. “I tried to do my best and to show a sense of pride in my work. That was noticed and it got me to where I am today.” Now that he knows a bit more about construction, Mzwandile has a long-term plan. “I have never been one for long-term plans but this job has given me the confidence to dream and plan. I would like to be a sub-contractor at some point. I believe there is a lot of business in that field. And because I know the actual work on the ground, I can make sure that I become a trusted sub contractor who will have a successful business,” he adds. Mzwandile says he was able to put some of his skills to use when he went home over the holidays. “It made me proud to be able to show my family what I have been up to in Johannesburg. I believe that they are proud of me and I know I will make them even prouder in future.”