By BAKANG MOKOTO

A career expo is crucial for Grade 12s as it prepares them for various career paths and assists them to meet their potential employers. Taung Grade 12 learners came out in numbers to attend a career expo held at Taung Depot Hall in Taung recently.

The initiative was organised by Dr Boitumelo Phakathi, who was the youngest South African black female surgeon in 2014. Phakathi originates from Taung but now plies her trade in Gauteng province.

“It was important to organise career expo as our young people sometimes underestimate themselves because of where they come from especially in a far-flung areas like Taung. So, we brought in different professionals like doctors, lawyers, accountants, professors, pilots and others who were born in Taung as a living testimony to encourage them.

“Remember, your place of birth does not determine how far you can go in life. So, we have put our focus on education because the former Republic of South Africa president, Dr Nelson Mandela once said education is one of the most powerful weapons that we can use to overcome unemployment, inequality and poverty hence we emphasis on it,” she said.

A 33 year-old doctor said it is imperative that opportunities find you ready. Phakathi said they also encouraged young people to create job opportunities for themselves and be employers instead of employees.

“I realised that the poor standard of health system at our local clinics and hospitals and I wanted to be one of those people who could improve the quality of health service delivery in our country. I worked hard after I went to a medical school and I am now a specialist in general surgery,” said Phakathi.

She said she is in the process of completing my PhD. Phakathi added that the career expo will be an annual event.

“We managed to organise mentors from different fields and we will be concentrating on Grade 12s for now. The aim is to ensure that we mentor these young ones for them to also plough back in the future,” she said.

Joint Aviation Awareness Programme (JAAP) Chairperson, Tebogo Mokgejane said: “There are vast opportunities in the aviation industry. So, it will depend on what field of interest you want to embark on. We have a pilot which is a popular career and it requires pure Mathematics and Physical Sciences.

“We also have avionics engineers who are working in the aerospace engineering which is subspecialty field of avionics”

A well-known Dj, Orapeleng “Dj Nation” Mokgwabone, who works as Air Traffic Controller for South African Air Force (SAAF) shared the same sentiments.

“We have four arms of service at the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) like Navy, Army, Military Health Services and SAAF. So, those who want to join must ensure that they follow relevant channels and have required qualifications according to the specified fields they want to embark on,” he said.

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