Sasolburg, Free State – Sasol, through its flagship Bridge to Work (BtW) programme, hosted a landmark Youth Day opportunity platform on 25 June 2026, bringing together young people, community members, employers and development partners from its fence-line communities.

The Bridge to Work Youth Day 2026 event was designed as a dynamic, community-centred platform that enables exposure, engagement and connection to real economic opportunities. It convened unemployed youth, emerging entrepreneurs, employers and ecosystem partners in a single integrated environment focused on practical pathways into work and enterprise. 

Bridge to Work is an employability initiative targeting the unemployed, with a particular focus on youth and women, equipping them with skills to access employment or to start and grow sustainable businesses. The programme supports fence-line community members to transition into meaningful livelihoods through structured development pathways. To date, the Bridge to Work programme has reached 1 233 beneficiaries across Sasolburg, Secunda and Ekandustria, with participants currently transitioning into jobs or enterprise creation over the next 12 to 18 months.

Key streams include:

• Iphepe (Smallholder Farming): 311 farmers in the Free State, Mpumalanga and Gauteng North around Ekandustria trained to build sustainable farming enterprises through technical support, business skills and improved market access.
• Motor Mechanics: 27 beneficiaries are currently enrolled; two have already qualified as artisans and secured employment in the evolving automotive sector, including emerging renewable energy vehicle technologies.
• Renewable Energy – Solar PV Installation: 397 beneficiaries were trained in solar PV installation across the Free State, Mpumalanga and Gauteng North around Ekandustria, enabling participation in the growing green economy.
• Welding: 48 beneficiaries are currently in the programme in Secunda. In the current financial year, 18 beneficiaries completed their apprenticeships and passed trade tests, with 10 already employed. Since March 2020, 76 beneficiaries across eight cohorts have received welding skills training in Sasolburg.
• Business Digital Services: 85 youth from fence-line communities in the Free State and Mpumalanga were trained in coding, robotics, data analytics and drone piloting, enabling them to build digital start-ups and secure employment in technology-driven sectors.
• Handyman Services: 35 beneficiaries (20 in the Free State and 15 in Mpumalanga) were trained in core handyman skills, with 15 businesses being actively supported.
• Biodiversity Management: 161 beneficiaries in the Free State trained in alien invasive species removal and value-add processing, resulting in the establishment of 10 businesses.

Despite these investments and outcomes, many young people still face barriers to enter the economy. The Youth Day 2026 event responded directly to this challenge by creating a structured opportunity platform that:

• Enabled direct engagement between youth, entrepreneurs, employers and partners.
• Increased visibility of programmes, support structures and development pathways.
• Created opportunities for participants to present their skills, services and business offerings.
• Facilitated connections that can lead to employment, collaboration or enterprise growth.

To maximise impact, the event was intentionally designed as a series of interconnected experience zones rather than a traditional conference or exhibition. These zones guided participants from inspiration, to exploration, to engagement and connection:

• Zone 1: Main Stage – A central gathering point featuring inspiring, practical and youth-relevant talks, conversations and storytelling to build confidence and encourage participation in the rest of the platform.
• Zone 2: Opportunity Hub – A curated exhibition area where training providers, learnerships, bursary providers, higher education institutions and development organisations presented clear pathways into employment and entrepreneurship.
• Zone 3: Skills Zone – Hands-on demonstrations and activations showcasing Bridge to Work priority sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, motor mechanics, welding and other technical trades, handyman services and digital/technology career paths.
• Zone 4: Connection Exchange – A facilitated engagement space focused on meaningful, future-oriented conversations between participants and ecosystem stakeholders, emphasising relationships and pathways rather than immediate job placement.
• Zone 5: Community Marketplace – A dedicated platform for entrepreneurs and small businesses from Sasol’s fence-line communities showcasing their products and services, connecting with customers and partners, and exploring collaboration and supplier opportunities.

The event was delivered through an Open Ecosystem Platform model. Sasol provided the core platform and infrastructure, while more than 84 participating organisations from various sectors – including employers, recruiters, training institutions, enterprise development organisations, industry bodies and government agencies – engaged directly with participants through exhibitions, demonstrations and information sharing.

The Bridge to Work Youth Day 2026 platform was designed to create value for multiple stakeholders through which youth and community participants gained practical exposure to different industries and trades, direct engagement with employers and partners, increased awareness of available programmes and pathways, and opportunities to showcase their skills and capabilities. Participating organisations were able to access a pool of potential talent, increase visibility of their programmes and services, identify candidates and collaborators, and contribute meaningfully to local economic development. Sasol was in turn able to reinforce its role as an enabler of opportunity, translate programme investments into visible community-facing impact, and strengthen relationships across the employment and enterprise ecosystem in support of inclusive economic participation.

The Bridge to Work Youth Day 2026 reaffirms Sasol’s commitment to creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, supporting youth and women, and enabling inclusive growth in the communities neighbouring its operations.

Visit society.sasol.com to learn more about Sasol’s social impact initiatives.