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Two Eastern Cape artisans are among 34 finalists selected for this year’s South African National Artisan Awards (SANAA).
The finalists from the province are drawn from Port Elizabeth TVET College and King Hintsa TVET College, with the national recognition highlighting the role of technical and vocational training in developing South Africa’s skilled workforce.
They will be recognised at the SANAA 2026 awards ceremony on Saturday, 5 September, under the theme “Changing Artisanal Identity and Status.”
The finalists were selected through an adjudication process involving industry experts and sector stakeholders.
The Eastern Cape has two finalists in the national line-up, alongside artisans from six other provinces.
Limpopo has the largest contingent with nine finalists, followed by the Western Cape with seven and Gauteng with six. KwaZulu-Natal has five finalists, while Mpumalanga has four. The Eastern Cape and North West each have two finalists.
There are no finalists from the Free State or Northern Cape on the 2026 list.
The awards recognise excellence across trades including engineering, automotive, construction, electrical, plumbing and mechanical disciplines, while also celebrating outstanding TVET college graduates entering the workforce.
Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela says changing the perception of artisans requires recognising them as skilled professionals who contribute to industrialisation, economic development and job creation.
The Department of Higher Education and Training says it is working with TVET colleges, SETAs, industry and private-sector partners to expand artisan training and workplace learning opportunities.
The SANAA programme aims to promote artisanal careers as professional and rewarding pathways, while encouraging more young people to pursue technical and vocational training.
Thulisile Mapongwana
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