WALTER SISULU FASHION STUDENTS STITCH THEIR WAY TO NATIONAL GLORY

iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu’s Fashion programme is celebrating a remarkable achievement after two of its students claimed the top two positions in the “Fashion Technology” category at the 2026 South African WorldSkills National Competition.

Competing against the country's finest young artisans at Durban's Chief Albert Luthuli International Convention Center, Mamotshabo Mahlogonolo Modiba and Inathi Tshongoyi showcased exceptional creativity, technical precision, and innovation to secure first and second place, respectively.

Held under the theme "Building a Skilled and Competitive Workforce for the Future," the biennial competition celebrates vocational excellence by bringing together the country’s most talented young professionals to compete in 28 different skill disciplines.

For Modiba, who hails from Mankweng in Limpopo, the gold medal represents more than personal success.

A Walter Sisulu Fashion graduate who now supports differently abled students as a scribe and reader within the department, she credits her late grandmother for inspiring her passion for fashion.

"My late grandmother turned fabric into dignity with nothing more than a needle and thread," she proudly proclaimed.

Having previously won provincial and national gold at the competition, Modiba will now represent South Africa at the WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai, China.

"Winning another gold medal showed me what is possible through discipline and belief. Representing my country is bigger than me as I'm carrying my mentor, my family, my friends, and everyone who believed in me," she said.

Her counterpart, final-year Fashion student Inathi Tshongoyi, originally from Cofimvaba and raised in Khayelitsha, also delivered an outstanding performance, earning the silver medal – a chapter of a fashion love affair that began long before university.

"I was always creating. I would draw houses and then build them from cardboard. Later, I started cutting up old t-shirts and redesigning them because I believed that whatever I imagined on paper could come to life. That's how I found fashion," he said.

Behind the students' success stands Fashion lecturer and South African WorldSkills Fashion Technology National Expert, Archibald Senakatlou Monyepao, who described the achievement as a reflection of years of dedication, resilience, and excellence.

"This milestone is far more than a competition result. It demonstrates the creativity, technical ability and determination of our students while showcasing the immense potential of South Africa's youth. It also reinforces the importance of investing in vocational, and technical skills development," he said.

Congratulating Modiba ahead of the international competition, Monyepao encouraged her to embrace the opportunity with confidence.

"She has already achieved something extraordinary. As you represent South Africa in Shanghai, remember that you carry not only your own dreams, but also the pride of your university, your community, and your country."

By Sisipho Qwenga