By Luzamo Sandlana
“The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” This African proverb rang true at the Career Awareness Development Project held in Bizana, Eastern Cape, on 15 October 2025. The event celebrated learners with disabilities who demonstrated resilience, confidence and a determination to build successful futures.
The initiative, led by the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education Training Authority (merSETA) and the Green Youth Network (GYN), created an important platform to promote inclusivity in career development. TCTA joined as a partner to help broaden opportunities for people living with disabilities and to attract more such candidates
into its workforce.
Stakeholder Relations Co-ordinator Dudu Moremi represented TCTA at the exhibition stand and reflected on the experience. “In my opinion, most people living with disabilities are often taken for granted. Disability is not an inability. Being here today, interacting with some of the learners and teachers, I feel that corporates like TCTA can do much more to contribute
to skills development in this country without focusing only on the so-called fully abled persons,” she said.
Under the theme ‘Driving Careers for All Abilities’, the programme targeted learners with disabilities or special educational needs. Hosted at Ingwe Technical College, the event aimed to raise career awareness in the science, technology, engineering
and mathematics (STEM) fields and to encourage strategic partnerships with organisations that value inclusion.
Exhibitors included automotive companies Cherry and Ford, as well as Transnet from the freight sector, which showcased diverse career paths available to people living with disabilities.
Offering words of encouragement, Malibongwe Xaba from GYN shared his personal journey. “I may not be physically impaired, but I grew up being told I would never make it because I was not good academically. Someone saw potential in me, and now I’m a General Manager for the same organisation bringing this career expo to you in Bizana,” he said to loud
applause.
Colleagues interested in participating in future outreach programmes can contact fndhundhuma@tcta.co.za.
