The DLO Energy Skills Initiative – a black female-owned social enterprise developing entrepreneurs for the green economy – is celebrating the graduation of 100 unemployed youth and township-based entrepreneurs who have successfully completed the Solar Panel Cleaning, Maintenance & Green Enterprise Training Programme.
This programme is a pioneering initiative aimed at preparing young South Africans to participate meaningfully in the country’s rapidly expanding green economy. The graduation ceremony, which took place in December 2025, marked the culmination of a three-month (90-day) accredited training programme that equipped participants with hands-on solar panel cleaning, system maintenance, and fault detection skills, as well as enterprise development modules designed to help them launch and operate viable green businesses within their communities.
This year’s programme builds on the success of the inaugural 2024 cohort in De Aar, Northern Cape, where the DLO Skills Initiative trained the first group of 100 youth in solar panel cleaning and maintenance. The programme continues to expand its reach, ensuring that young people, particularly those from township and rural areas, are empowered with the technical and entrepreneurial capabilities required by the renewable energy sector.
Linda Mabhena-Olagunju, CEO of DLO Energy Group, said: “South Africa’s energy transition requires a skilled and future-ready workforce. This programme is not only about producing technicians; it is about developing entrepreneurs who can create jobs, drive local economic development, and help reduce youth unemployment. Corporate South Africa has a critical role in supporting government to tackle this crisis, which is why we are proud to have partnered with ABSA for the delivery of this programme. This initiative demonstrates what is possible when we collectively invest in skills development and enterprise growth.”
The 2025 programme has been delivered in partnership with ABSA Bank, whose support has been instrumental in providing high-quality training, mentorship, and enterprise development resources to participants. This partnership demonstrates the powerful impact of private–public collaboration in advancing South Africa’s just energy transition.
The graduation arrives at a crucial time. South Africa’s unemployment rate rose to 33.2% in Q2 2025, with youth unemployment remaining at crisis levels. While 19,000 jobs were created, over 140,000 were lost, leaving 8.4 million people unemployed (Stats SA). The DLO Skills Initiative responds directly to these challenges by creating pathways into the renewable energy economy for individuals who have historically been excluded.
By equipping young people with both technical skills and entrepreneurial training, the programme is developing a pipeline of enterprise-ready talent capable of supporting solar project deployment, maintenance services, and green micro-enterprises across the country.