Reach
More young people meaningfully supported in relevant communities.
01 — Social
From local classrooms to future careers.
Toyota Empowerment Trust invests in mathematics, science and the broader development of young people in communities around Toyota’s operations. The objective is to expand opportunity while strengthening the future pipeline of technically capable young people South African industry will need.
The technical talent challenge starts long before recruitment.
By the time an employer struggles to find suitable artisans, technicians, engineers or bursary candidates, the underlying problem may have been developing for years.
Young people who do not build strong mathematics and science foundations early enough can lose access to entire career pathways.
TET intervenes before that happens.
Through the Inqubeko training platform, learners receive academic and developmental support designed to improve performance, broaden aspiration and create stronger pathways into further study and future work.
These are not separate outcomes.
Toyota’s surrounding communities should experience meaningful and measurable benefit from the company’s presence.
At the same time, Toyota and the broader manufacturing economy require stronger pipelines of technically capable people.
A well-designed STEM programme can address both.
Community investment today can become technical capability tomorrow.
The pathway is deliberate:
- Communitymathematics and science capabilityfurther study or technical trainingemployabilityfuture careers
High-school mathematics and science.
The core intervention focuses on improving the academic and personal foundations learners need to succeed in STEM-related pathways.
Programme elements can include:
- mathematics support
- physical sciences support
- English and communication development
- digital learning tools
- hybrid and in-person tutoring
- examination preparation
- mentorship
- life coaching
- career guidance
- psychometric assessment
- physical development
- leadership development
- accredited short courses
- progress tracking
The programme is designed to develop both academic competence and the personal resilience required to progress beyond school.
Better marks create more options.
Reported outcomes across a cohort of 191 learners.
| Measure | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics at 60%+ | 53.4% | 79.6% |
| Learners in the 30–49% at-risk band | 27.2% | 7.9% |
| Mathematics distinctions | 16.2% | 31.4% |
| Science at 60%+ | 20.7% | 69.0% |
43 percentage points — highest reported single-learner improvement in mathematics.
The goal is not simply to move marks. It is to increase the number of young people who leave school with real choices.
From classroom to career.
High school is the centre of the model, but the journey does not end at matric.
The wider Inqubeko talent pathway supports young people through five stages.
- 01Foundation
Build literacy, numeracy, confidence and learning readiness.
- 02Aspiration
Strengthen high-school mathematics and science while developing leadership, resilience and career awareness.
- 03Access
Support progression into bursary, TVET and university pathways through structured administration, academic oversight and student support.
- 04Perseverance
Help young professionals navigate the transition into working life through mentorship and coaching.
- 05Acceleration
Develop high-potential employees into stronger future leaders.
The connecting layer
The Inqubeko Alumni Network supports ongoing tracking, career information, opportunities and long-term progression.
Education becomes more meaningful when there is line of sight to opportunity.
Across the reported five-year period:
- 01
29 employed graduates.
- 02
32 university students.
- 03
75 TVET students.
- 04
136 young people in structured Toyota-linked STEM pathways.
Of the first ten TSAM bursary recipients:
- 8 progressed into full-time employment at Toyota.
- 2 continued into Honours studies.
The long-term ambition is to track progression consistently:
- schoolstudyqualificationemploymentcareer progression
Awaiting confirmation — Visa Khambule / Jacques Kriek
Every figure on this page is published as the content brief supplies it. None has an agreed definition, reporting period, source or “as at” date attached to it.
The strategy review records a live conflict in exactly these numbers — learners appear as 1,419 in some materials and 2,659+ since inception in others, and direct jobs as 8, “more than 15” and 36. A metrics dictionary has to settle each one before publication, or a period figure will be read as a since-inception figure by the first person who quotes it.
What success looks like
Academic improvement
Stronger mathematics and science performance.
Progression
More learners moving into TVET, university, bursary and technical pathways.
Retention
Young people remaining in structured education and career pathways.
Employment
Alumni progressing into meaningful work.
Toyota relevance
A larger pool of candidates capable of competing for technical and professional opportunities.
Community value
Visible long-term benefit in the communities the programme is intended to serve.
Recognised for impact.
In 2026, the training business operating within the wider TET ecosystem was named a finalist in three categories at the Nedbank Top Empowerment Awards:
- Socio-Economic Development of the Year
- Education and Skills Development of the Year
- Youth Development of the Year