Secunda, Mpumalanga – In a move to enable broader participation in the digital economy, Sasol on Thursday, 4 June 2026, hosted a Digital Futures Technology Immersion Experience in Secunda. The event convened enterprise development partners, technology leaders, innovators, funders, government representatives, and industry stakeholders to drive collaboration, innovation and create pathways for young people into the digital economy.

Hosted during Youth Month at the Sasol Recreation Club, the conference formed part of Sasol’s broader commitment to equipping young people with future-ready digital skills, while exposing them to industries and technologies shaping tomorrow’s economy.

Furthermore, the Digital Futures 2026 Technology Immersion Experience provided a platform for digitally skilled participants from Sasol’s Bridge to Work Programmes to connect with potential funders, employers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovation ecosystems within the rapidly evolving technology sector.

Leading technology and innovation partners within Sasol’s broader digital and innovation network participating in the conference included  Accenture South Africa, Microsoft Elevate, IOCO, COOi Studios, Ocule IT, Imizizi, HCLTech, ServiceNow, Intelliscient, JSE Enterprise & Supplier Development, Lubanzi ICT Consulting, Sencorp Digital, Palucode, and the JSE Enterprise and Supplier Development. The strategic ecosystem partners shared market insights on various pathways to employment and entrepreneurship, innovation and participation within the digital economy, while also showcasing emerging technologies, platforms and digital capabilities shaping the future world of work.

The technology immersion experience represents Sasol’s latest strategic intervention to create an enabling environment for tech entrepreneurs, digitally skilled youth and emerging innovators to explore opportunities in the digital sector while promoting youth inclusion in this growing sector of the economy.

Over 100 digitally skilled participants attended the conference and were exposed to live technological demonstrations, immersive exhibitions, keynote addresses, structured panel discussion focused on enterprise development, employability, entrepreneurship and market access.

Speaking during the conference, Gao Mothoagae, Vice President: Corporate Social Investment and Sasol Foundation, said: “This initiative reflects Sasol’s enduring commitment to empowering young people from communities neighbouring our operations with future-ready skills that support pathways into employment and entrepreneurship in the digital economy.”

Digital Futures 2026 aligns with the Bridge to Work Business Digital Services programme, which is focused on equipping residents from Sasol’s local communities with skills in coding, robotics, drone piloting and data science. The event also included a graduation ceremony for 40 Bridge to Work beneficiaries, marking the completion of training in Digital Services.

Launched in 2022, Bridge to Work equips young people and unemployed women from communities neighbouring Sasol’s operations with critical, in-demand skills. As part of the programme, Sasol has made significant investments in the programme, supporting diverse training streams such as Iphepe farming, motor mechanics, solar installation, welding and handyman services to drive sustainable livelihoods. Several past beneficiaries have established successful small businesses, contributing to local economic activity, skills transfer and job creation.

Currently, a total of 1 128 beneficiaries across Secunda, Sasolburg and Ekandustria are actively participating in the Bridge to Work programme.

Visit https://society.sasol.com/bridge-to-work/ to learn more about the programme.