A group of seven Wind Turbine Service Technicians from Nordex Energy South Africa (NESA) recently returned from a month-long intensive international training programme at the Nordex Academy in Türkiye – an initiative that forms part of the company’s broader commitment to strengthening South Africa’s renewable energy workforce. By equipping its teams with the skills to service the latest Delta 4000 platform, NESA is advancing local service capacity, supporting long-term talent retention, and contributing to national goals for renewable energy sector skills development.
The wind turbine service technicians who recently participated in the international training programme at the Nordex Academy. From left: Timna Mandlevu, Luyolo Dyhubele, Onke Binase, Lundi Ntakana, Thuto Chele, Melinkosi Tsholoba, Yongama Nikelo.
“This international training is important to our project delivery and localisation goals,” said Babalwa Kekana, Head of Service at Nordex Energy South Africa. “It equips our teams with essential knowledge of the Delta 4000 platform, enhances operational readiness for our 631 MW pipeline of projects, and promotes peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, which benefits the entire organisation.”
Participants included highly experienced service technicians, such as Timna Mandlevu, Local Operations Manager, who brings over a decade of experience to the team. The training will directly support the maintenance of a number of wind farms currently under construction and enable the cascade of learning through internal mentorship and on-the-job workshops.
Kekana added: “The training has a direct impact on operational efficiency – boosting morale, improving fault response times, and reducing the margin for error. It also supports our long-term workforce strategy: building a team of highly skilled local employees who are equipped to service the next generation of wind technology.”
Beyond the technical outcomes, the programme marked a personal milestone for many of the technicians. Thuto Chele, a service technician with five years’ experience, shared his view: “Being selected for this training was about more than just representing Nordex; it was about showing that with opportunity and support, we can thrive at a global level. Coming from a background where opportunities were limited, this experience has been life-changing – professionally and personally.”
The seven technicians will act as ‘multipliers’ within their local teams, rolling out what they have learned through structured mentorship and knowledge-sharing sessions. This approach ensures the broader NESA workforce benefits from global best practice and accelerates the company’s contribution to inclusive economic growth through local capacity building.
“Nordex is committed to supporting local value chains in a way that promotes sustainable development and inclusive economic growth,” said Kekana. “We’re investing in our people and we’re investing in the future of South Africa’s wind energy sector.”
For more information visit: https://www.nordex-online.com/en/south-africa/