VW trainee scoops top award
Volkswagen Group SA’s Nala Mofokeng was one of 46 talented young people honoured by the vehicle giant with a 2018 Best Trainee Award.
The award ceremony took place in Wolfsburg, Germany, on Friday.
Mofokeng, of Welkom, Free State, joined 14 young women and 32 young men from around the world across 16 vocations who were honoured for outstanding performance and professional competence.
The certificates for 2018 were presented by Volkswagen Group board of management chair Dr Herbert Diess, board of management human resources member Gunnar Kilian, and president of the group’s Global Group Works Council, Bernd Osterloh.
At the award ceremony, Diess said: “You have every reason to be proud because you are among the world’s best trainees in the Volkswagen Group.
“In the future too, we will need a team that is motivated, competent and committed, and also welcomes change.
“If you want to keep pace with the major challenges of our times, you must demonstrate flexibility and be ready to accept change.”
Mofokeng, 27, joined VWSA in 2017 as a graduate trainee after completing his electrical engineering degree at Nelson Mandela University.
He started as a maintenance engineer in the body shop maintenance department.
Mofokeng said: “I am extremely honoured and grateful for the opportunity Volks- wagen has afforded me – firstly for being part of the Volkswagen graduate programme, and secondly to be chosen as the best among the best.
“The time I spent in Wolfsburg last week has opened my eyes to how big the organisation is on a global scale.
“I am especially grateful for the friendships and contacts I made while I was there.
“I was mostly inspired by the words of Dr Diess and the strategy of Volkswagen moving forward.
“I am looking forward to enhancing my skills to benefit the organisation efficiently and effectively.”
Thomas Schaefer, chair and managing director of Volkswagen Group SA, said: “We are very proud that one of our young talents was honoured by the group for his outstanding performance in 2018.
“Identifying and retaining talent is very important to the long-term success of our company.
“VWSA remains committed to investing in training programmes such as our graduate trainees that help us attract young talent such as Nala to our organisation.”