Capital Equipment News December 2018

EDITOR'S COMMENT

STEMMING THE TIDE

A s 2018 draws to a close, one of the key takeaways for me this year has been the industry’s sheer commitment to stemming the tide of skills shortage in South Africa. That there is an overpowering need for skilled workers in the country is no point of contention. However, this year was particularly encouraging, given the private sector’s concerted efforts to help close the skills gap. In-house skills development programmes are increasingly overtaking technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The skills development agenda indicates a shift in emphasis away from supply-led systems which dictate the mode of learning and the pathways to be followed. Instead, it places emphasis on developing skills in demand in the workplace. Previously, companies have depended largely on state provision for skills development, and that model has proven to

be a catastrophic failure; it is rare for the state alone to be able to offer the quality, quantity and range of training needed. In addition, state provision often suffers from several weaknesses. This is not unique to South Africa, many countries share a number of systemic weaknesses in their skills development systems. Notably, in most cases there is a lack of up-to-date, reliable labour market data on which to base decisions on current and future skills needs and strategies for meeting the needs. A fragmentation of responsibility for skills development between Ministries is another typical weakness, leading to a lack of strategic leadership and the inability to implement reforms, rather than responsibility for strategy clearly allocated to a single Ministry with a duty to liaise with all stakeholders. Much has been said about South Africa’s failed Sector Education and Training Authority programme and other initiatives geared at producing the technical skills required by industry that have not produced the desired results. With several success stories this year, I am of convinced the private sector is demonstrating that it has the necessary clout to bridge the skills gap in the country. companies have made hefty investments in developing the skills they need, now and well into the future. As you will see in the Training feature in this edition of Capital Equipment News , many forward-thinking companies are investing in their own initiatives geared at developing the skills they need for their day-to-day endeavours. thyssenkrupp recently launched its R28-million Technical Training Academy. Located in Chloorkop, Johannesburg. It will offer accredited technical and theoretical training to engineering apprentices. In total, the company is looking at training between 30-35 technicians per year. Through its accredited apprentice programme, Bell Equipment enrols an average of 50 apprentices every year. Out of that number, it employs 10 of the graduates and the rest are available to the industry – for other OEMs or its Given that technical skills are the lifeblood of the equipment industry, it is encouraging to see that several

customer network. Babcock’s apprenticeship programmes, ranging from three to four years, train and mentor apprentices through instructor-led and on-the-job training, with the aim of producing graduates capable of operating in complex, highly regulated environments, where competence, compliance and safety are critical. Apprenticeships are offered in various trades including diesel mechanic, boilermaker, earthmoving equipment mechanic, and fitter/welder. Since 2015, Volvo Group Southern Africa has invested more than R86-million on apprenticeship training, automotive industry and disabled persons learnerships and internships. The company planned to plough a further R25-million into the same initiatives during 2018. This year, the Swedish group also established a specialised Driver Training Academy to address the shortage of skilled drivers in the region, at an investment of R1,9- million. We should commend these companies commonly known that many developing countries struggle to maintain robust skills development systems, and despite a large and growing working-age population, skills shortage and high unemployment abound. Economic growth is hindered and employers experience hard-to-fill vacancies for skilled posts. Intervention at this level requires working on policy reform and skills development strategies. Africa is the next big destination for business, but it needs the skills to unlock the treasure trove. Perhaps, these initiatives by the noted companies could serve as a blueprint for developing the necessary know-how needed across the continent. Equipment News would like to extend our special wishes for a happy year end to our readers, advertisers and service providers. Let’s all enjoy the well-deserved break and take the festive opportunity to recharge our batteries in anticipation of a prosperous business year in 2019. I wish you all the happiest of tidings, merriest of Christmases to those who celebrate and warmest of holiday seasons! In conclusion, the festive season is upon us, and all of us at Capital for their commitment to addressing the skills dearth in the country. It is

Munesu Shoko – Editor

capnews@crown.co.za

@CapEquipNews

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