Some success stories are built one opportunity at a time. Richard Panjecane’s is one of them.
After completing Matric in 2013, Richard dreamed of becoming a paramedic or radiographer. However, financial circumstances made university unaffordable, and he entered the workforce instead. After several years of working in entry level jobs and trying to support his family, Richard was introduced to Progression where he began his journey as a learner in our Sewing Hub.
What followed was an impressive commitment to learning and growth. During his time at Progression, Richard completed various nationally recognised learnerships, spanning entrepreneurship, business, systems development and IT.
But Richard’s journey was about much more than collecting qualifications. He gained valuable practical experience across Progression, starting in the Sewing Hub where he worked on garments and assisted with sewing machine maintenance and repairs. He later joined the IT Design Team and gained experience supporting Sales, analysing digital data and, most recently, working as a Data Capturer in the Recruitment Department.
Balancing work responsibilities with a demanding assessment workload was not always easy. Richard recalls late nights, deadlines and plenty of perseverance. But he kept going, motivated by the belief that his qualifications and experience would eventually open the door to permanent employment.
That breakthrough came in August 2026, when Richard joined one of the country’s leading private healthcare groups as a permanent Pharmacy Clerk. Today, he works in a busy healthcare environment, where his responsibilities include processing prescriptions, managing pharmaceutical stock, maintaining accurate records, billing and transferring pharmacy stock to wards, theatres and ICUs. It is a demanding role that requires accuracy, discipline, reliability and a strong work ethic – qualities Richard developed throughout his years at Progression.
Looking back, Richard says his learnership journey taught him not only valuable professional skills, but also the importance of discipline, time management, meeting deadlines and taking pride in every task, no matter how small.
His advice to other young people is simple: “Never lose hope in your search for success.”
He encourages young people to remain consistent, commit to their learnerships and take advantage of every opportunity to gain qualifications and experience.
Richard’s journey is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t always happen overnight. Sometimes, it is built qualification by qualification, experience by experience and opportunity by opportunity.
We are incredibly proud of how far he has come and thrilled to see his commitment rewarded with the permanent career opportunity he worked so hard to achieve. His story also demonstrates the real impact of learnerships: not just a qualification, but a pathway to skills, experience and employment.
