Young tradesman shows skills at national competition

Shivaya Balakisten (21) from Legit Engineering in Nigel recently took part in the WorldSkills South Africa Biennial National Competition.

The competition was held at the Durban ICC Centre, with tradesmen from across South Africa competing in 24 different categories.

Balakisten won his category, CNC Turning, and will go on to compete at the World Skills International Competition later this year in Germany.

The competition, organised by the Department for Higher Education and Training, could be compared to the Olympics but for tradesmen, according to a national expert for CNC Turning, Pierre Palm.

Palm, who is also the owner of Legit Engineering, said he is proud of Balakisten and how far he has come.

“He has a great personality,” Palm said of Balakisten. “He is eager and willing to learn and he is not afraid to put in the work.”

Balakisten practised hard for the competition, undergoing various tests supervised by Palm and the superintendent of production, Jared Moonsamy, in preparation for the event.

“The fact that I won hasn’t settled in yet,” Balakisten said.

“It’s overwhelming and exciting. When they read my name I couldn’t believe it, I thought it was a mistake. But I won and now I am currently the best in CNC Turning in South Africa for my age.”

For the competition, Balakisten and his fellow contestants had to produce an engineering component from scratch within a timeframe of four hours.

“They had to draw the component, programme the machine, set up their tools and the machine according to the perimeters or the scope provided and cut the component all within the timeframe,” Palm explained.

“The competition was very difficult, not a lot of the competitors finished within the allotted time. Shivaya managed to do so in under four hours.”

Balakisten’s work-family kept him motivated and calm throughout the entire competition, using a video call.

“Whenever I heard one of them cheer me on, I felt calmer and remembered to breathe,” Balakisten said.

“I am very thankful for my work family and the support they give me. Thanks for keeping me motivated throughout the process.

“My mother couldn’t believe that I won when I first told her until she saw the medal. She hasn’t stopped smiling about it.”

Balakisten, who began working at Legit Engineering only last year, said that he always wanted to learn a trade.

“From a young age, I enjoyed working with my hands, and when I began working here, I didn’t know anything,” he said.

“But I did a course and I enjoy it very much. I love to learn and in this job you always learn something new and you never know what to expect.

“My goal is to be better than Jared, my superintendent, who is also like a brother to me,” Balakisten said in conclusion.