South Africa's Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, has officially launched the Welkom Digital Hub, calling it the future for the mining town. The initiative aims to equip youth and women with digital skills for sustainable jobs beyond mining. The launch coincided with the graduation of the hub's first cohort of learners.
On November 7, 2025, Minister Gwede Mantashe officially launched the Welkom Digital Hub in the Free State province. Partnering with the Mineworkers Development Agency (MDA), Sibanye-Stillwater, and Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA), the hub seeks to provide future-fit digital skills to youth and women in mining towns. This effort focuses on fostering sustainable jobs and small businesses within the mining industry.
Mantashe emphasized the hub's role in transforming Welkom, a town historically tied to mining. "Projects like the Welkom Digital Hub are crucial in promoting life after mining," he stated during his keynote address. He urged mining companies to contribute more to the communities they operate in, highlighting the need to improve local lives beyond resource extraction.
The launch event also celebrated the graduation of the hub's first cohort after a three-month course. Graduates received certificates and shared their enthusiasm. They reported gaining substantial knowledge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technological advances, preparing them for workplace opportunities and digital entrepreneurship.
Some graduates expressed satisfaction with the program, noting how it has equipped them with practical skills. The initiative underscores a broader push for digital inclusion and innovation in post-mining economies, empowering communities through technology.