On Monday, South Africa sent 50 graduates to China for a year-long training program in e-commerce, aimed at equipping them with skills to secure employment or establish their own businesses upon their return.

The graduates were selected from 21 technical, vocational, and education training colleges in South Africa. Tom Mkhwanazi, chief executive officer of the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority, said the group is expected to serve as "ambassadors" for the country during their stay in China.

The authority is jointly funding the program with the Chinese Culture and International Education Exchange Centre and several Chinese colleges.

Mkhwanazi said the graduates will undergo training at selected Chinese universities before being placed in companies to gain global exposure to international retail standards and trade trends.

"We hope they will build networks, learn entrepreneurial skills, and create opportunities for themselves in South Africa and elsewhere," Mkhwanazi said.

He added that the program seeks to equip South African youth with digital commerce skills while fostering entrepreneurship in the retail sector.

Nomfundo Manzana, a 31-year-old business management graduate from Eastcape Midlands TVET College, said she is excited for the opportunity, noting that it will be her first time travelling overseas.

Manzana hopes to learn Mandarin, experience Chinese food, and culture, and share South African customs and cuisine with her hosts.

Mogale Precious Thapelo, 27, expressed similar excitement, saying she plans to establish her own business and sell goods through online platforms after returning from China.

Zwivhuya Doctor Livhegwa, 25, who holds a diploma in marketing management, said he also intends to promote South Africa’s tourism, culture, and languages while in China.

In May 2025, 82 South African graduates returned from China after completing one year of e-commerce training and industrial attachments with Chinese companies. Mkhwanazi said four of them secured employment in China, while 12 have started their own enterprises.

Gideon Hlamalani Chitanga, a researcher at the Centre for Africa China Studies at the University of Johannesburg, welcomed the initiative.

Chitanga said such practical skills training enhances employment prospects and should be expanded. He added that sending the graduates to China strengthens people-to-people interaction, promotes cultural exchanges, and deepens Sino-South African relations.