TETA GRADUATION CEREMONY:—A CULMINATION OF HARD WORK Issue 2

2013

Inside this issue:

TETA

Graduation

Ceremony

1

Programme

Overview

2

Hairdressing:

Africa Skills

style

4

Feedem 5

Africa Skills:

Ons verander

lewens

6

AS brings

change to the

Northern

Cape

6

Host

Employers:

Northern

Cape

students

8

SETA: New

Grants

Legislation

3

Values &

Goals

NATED

Engineering

Examinations

7

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The eagerly-awaited gradua�on ceremony for the TETA New Venture Group arrived towards the end of April

this year.

Susan Eybers, facilitator for this group, summed up the start of the project as follows: “On the 1st of

September 2011, I received the greatest birthday present anybody could get. I started a new job and at the

same �me got a ‘family’ of 26 learners. Brand new learners, who wanted to enter the business world, with-

out knowing the commitment and hard work that would be expected of them”.

Eybers confirm that New Venture Crea�on is hard work and says “don’t let anybody tell you anything

different, to get through NVC and be found competent and learn anything – it is hard work.” In only one

year each learner produces a por5olio of evidence, proof of their hard work, which spans two large lever

arch files. It is the responsibility of the facilitator to prepare all the work to be able to guide the learners

through this jungle of new experiences. The assessor marks every word produced by 26 learners!

On Monday, 29 April 2013 all this hard work was rewarded during a gradua�on ceremony at the Hya; Golf

Resort in Oubaai. In the Africa Skills tradi�on, the Managing Director, Elsie Harmse, was present to welcome

each graduate as they arrived, to worry about those who were not there yet, to lead the academic

procession, and to deliver a much appreciated welcoming address. In her address, the TETA Project

Manager, Por�a Mkhabela, requested Harmse to consider mentorship of other training organisa�ons,

proving recogni�on of Harmse’s excep�onal skill, passion and commitment. According to Eybers, Harmse is

an enormous inspira�on to her staff and Africa Skills’ students.

Mkhabela, Project Manager of TETA (the Transports Industry Educa�on and Training Authority) provided an

overview of the project and her work rela�onship with Africa Skills during her address. This was Mkhabela’s

last official appearance on behalf of TETA, and therefore a special occasion. The staff of Africa Skills holds

Mkhabela in high regard for the way she handled projects and her excellent support. Mkhabela pointed out

that it seldom happens that a whole class completes a NVC course and was very pleased that this happened

on her project! Con�nue on Page 2….

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW ISSUE 2

(2013)

Page 2

MODE OF DELIVERY PROGRAMME DURATION

Full Qualifica�ons

New Venture Crea�on (NQF Level 2) 12 months

Hairdressing (NQF Levels 2—4) 12 months per level

Domes�c Services (NQF Level 2) 12 months

Basic Food Prepara�on (Founda�on & Proficiency) (5 days & 3 months)

Food and Beverage Services (Founda�on & Proficiency) (5 days & 3 months)

Housekeeping Services (5 days & 3 months)

Management Assistant N4—N6 6 months per level

MODE OF DELIVERY PROGRAMME DURATION

Skills Programmes

Ward Councillor 2 days

Customer Awareness 2 days

Personal Leadership 3 days

Debtsavvy: Personal Money Management Op�ons

Professional Driver 2 days

Excellent Driving Skills Op�ons

Supervisory Skills 2 days

Equip – John Maxwell: Leadership 2 days per module

Cleaning Principles 2 days

Computer Skills 2 days

MODE OF DELIVERY PROGRAMME DURATION

Artisan Development

Ar�san Learning Programme 36 months

Trade Test: Preparation and Testing (Section 28/RPL) 7 days – 9 days

National Certificate N1 – N2: Engineering Studies 3 months per level

Trade Test: Hairdressing (RPL / Sec�on 28) 7 days—9 days

SKILLS PROGRAMMES DURATION

Basic Arc Welding 10 days

Basic MIG Welding 5 days

Basic Oxy-acetylene gas Welding and Brazing 10 days

Basic TIG Welding 10 days

CuSng Skills 5 days

Basic Electricity 3 days

PLC Course 2 days

Civil – Building of Manholes 5 days

Civil—Building Contrac�ng Skills 5 days

Sabelo Mbuku, also from TETA,

inspired the learners to go forth on

their life paths with the realisa�on

that NVC is not the goal, but rather

the start of a journey. How they

travel that road is their own

responsibility as they have full

control over the BEAST in them

because their Behaviour, Emo�ons

and AStudes are under their

command as their Speech will

determine how they Travel on

life’s road.

Johanna Josephs and Clive

Baartman provided feedback from

the learners’ perspec�ve on the

NVC course. Josephs gave

evidence on how they discovered

new limits they have not realised

possessing, working and reworking

un�l every li;le task was worth a

competent verdict. Llona Basson,

who was their assessor for the la;er

two months of their formal course and

their two months of mentoring, had

built their self-confidence and public

speaking. The feedback from the

learners proved that students have an

extremely high opinion of Africa Skills

and its staff, and expressed their

apprecia�on towards TETA for the

opportunity granted to them.

Ronnelie Stevens, Opera�onal

Manager of Africa Skills FET College,

guided the proceedings and handed

the cer�ficates to the learners. With

the assistance of Beunet Smith behind

the camera, and Madeleine Nel

controlling and issuing academic

aSre, Ronnelie created a

glorious day for the learners

which they all enjoyed very much

and will always remember.

Under the very competent hands

of Eybers and Basson, this group

of learners became confident and

equipped business people. Their

growth as effec�ve learners,

business people and holis�cally

developed individuals will remain

with them for life and will serve

them to start those great

businesses they had planned so

well. The success of the project

was demonstrated clearly with

one learner already planning

expansion of her business to

Gauteng!

tetA GRADUATION CONTINUED...

SETA’S: NEW GRANT LEGISLATION eligibility criteria for payment of

mandatory grants are met.

The levy paying employer has to

meet the following criteria:

• Be registered with the

Commissioner in terms of the

Skills Development Levies Act.

• Has paid the levies to the Com-

missioner as required by the

SDLA.

• All levy payments are up to date

at the �me of the approval and

for the repor�ng period.

• The WSP and ATR are submi;ed

by the required deadline.

• As from 1 April 2013, the WSP

for the previous repor�ng

period has been submi;ed and

implemented according to the

prescrip�ons for implementa-

�on by the par�cular SETA. Any employer who has a

recogni�on agreement with a

trade union or has any union in

place will have to provide proof

that the WSP and ATR have been

subject to consulta�on with

recognised trade unions and the

WSP and ATR must be signed off

by the labour representa�ve

appointed by the recognised trade

union unless an explana�on is

provided.

The above will therefore require

employers to plan training that will

be implemented and the employer

will have to ensure that all training

meet the criteria set out by their

SETA.

Discre�onary Grant

The alloca�on of discre�onary

grants will be directly related to

each SETA’s scarce skills plan and

will be guided by an approved

Discre�onary Grant Policy. SETA’s

will have to ensure that the

distribu�on of grant applica�ons

and project proposals forms are

done in a way to enable na�onal

access and to allow various

individuals or ins�tu�ons to be able

to apply for them.

SETA’s are required to focus on

addressing scarce skills and cri�cal

skills through programmes designed

to address skills needs and would

include integrated learning.

Con�nue on Page 5...

Employers have to submit the WSP

and ATR for the 2012/2013

repor�ng by 30 June 2013, but as

of 1 April 2014, the submission

deadline will be 30 April of each

year. The period for data

compila�on for submission is

therefore effec�vely reduced to a 1

month period. Africa Skills will

con�nue to assist clients with the

submissions. Proper record

keeping of all training, copies of

cer�ficates and proof of payment

will have to be kept up to date

throughout the repor�ng period to

ensure �meously repor�ng.

The mandatory grant will be

reduced to 20% of an employer’s

1% skills levy. The reduc�on is

significant and employers will have

to u�lise the discre�onary grant

applica�ons. Mandatory grants

will con�nue to be paid at least

quarterly. Any mandatory grants

not claimed will be transferred into

the SETA’s discre�onary fund by

15 August annually.

A SETA will only pay out an

employer’s mandatory grant if the

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ISSUE 2 (2013)

Page 4 HAIRDRESSING...AFRICA SKILLS STYLE! Benjamin Franklin once said: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest” and we fully agree with

this statement. Our group of students are inves�ng in knowledge and a be;er future. Africa Skills and NX

Hair Academy offer world-class hairdressing training at all levels by combining excellence with educa�on.

We pride ourselves in con�nuous crea�ve development and above all adhering to the high standards set by

Services SETA and NAMB.

Mrs Suze;e Coetzee, the owner of and qualified hairdresser at NX Hair Academy , recently celebrated her

22nd

year of hairdressing. For 22 years she has strived to provide ul�mate crea�vity and excellence for the

hairdressing industry worldwide.

Her interna�onal footprint includes training in South Africa, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and

Germany. Coetzee is not only a Hairdresser par excellence, but also a “On Top” Image Consultant trained at

ISJON. Suze;e is also the Ar�s�c Director for Wahl SA and her involvement includes shows, training,

seminars and presen�ng consumer consulta�on. Wahl elected Suze;e as one of the top 10 trainers world-

wide.

One of her career highlights was par�cipa�ng as a SA Intercoiffure team member in Berlin at the

Intercoiffure congress and Hair World 2000.

She thoroughly enjoys training and impar�ng her knowledge and experience to our students. Our

Hairdressing students are privileged to receive training, coaching and mentoring from Suze;e and the

hairdressing salons in the Southern Cape can look forward to receiving qualified hairdressers who will

definitely add value to the industry.

CANSA SHAVATHON – our group of Hairdressing students recently volunteered their �me and skills to

support CANSA’s Shavathon awareness project. The purpose of this project is support for cancer sufferers

and survivors by either shaving off or having their hair sprayed in weird and wonderful colours. This year's

CANSA Shavathon took place from 1 to 4 March. Mrs Suze;e Coetzee offered the students the

opportunity to make a difference and to be involved with this meaningful event.

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Seta: new grant legislation continued...

In order to obtain discre�onary funding for PIVOTAL programmes the employer or legal person must complete and

submit a PIVOTAL training plan and report using the documents provided in the regula�ons published in December

2012.

The regula�ons in the SETA Grant Regula�ons document will become effec�ve on 1 April 2013. The most significant

changes will be the reduc�on in the mandatory grant percentage from 50% to 20% and the strict control and

criteria to be met in terms of a company’s previous period WSP submi;ed to the SETA. Each SETA will require

planned and implemented training to meet specific criteria. Another significant change is that the submission date

for the WSP and ATR will be moved forward to 30 April 2014. Employers will have to focus on proper record

keeping throughout the year to avoid not being able to provide all the correct and required informa�on between

the end of the repor�ng period at 31 March each year the submission deadline of 30 April. Employers will have to

start implemen�ng PIVOTAL grants to ensure they have access to the skills levy they pay. The purpose of PIVOTAL

grants is to provide students with the opportunity to complete a prac�cal part of their qualifica�on and this is

usually the last leg that they need to complete in order to obtain their qualifica�ons. Many students cannot

complete their qualifica�on due to the fact that they do not have the opportunity to complete their prac�cal

training. The PIVOTAL grant will allow students to complete their training but also to gain valuable work and

industry experience that will make them more employable. The Na�onal Skills Development Strategy provides

informa�on on the scarce and cri�cal skills in our country.

Africa Skills will be able to provide employers with specific SETA requirements in terms of mandatory and

discre�onary grant applica�ons and will also assist employers to apply for both PIVOTAL and discre�onary grants.

Africa Skills’ skills product will provide clients with a Skills gap analysis to iden�fy skills gaps within their business,

then complete a Training Needs Analysis and prepare personal development plans to bridge the gaps. Africa Skills

will be able to assist in aligning the training to the scarce and cri�cal skills and will be able to advice on possible

training that can be implemented.

The changes in the grant regula�ons will require employers to ac�vely plan, source and fund training. A trained

workforce is a mo�vated and produc�ve workforce and will ul�mately increase a company’s Employment Equity

Profile as well as the company’s BEE scorecard.

FEEDEM

Africa Skills’ Training Centre is situated in Thembalethu George, surrounded by the majes�c Outeniqua Mountains

in the world-renowned Garden Route Area.

The college hostel hosts approximately 60 students, which boasts a kitchen preparing 3 meals per day. Feedem is

well-known for their friendly and experienced staff. The staff has a golden rule: you can turn any foreign kitchen

into Mecca with three balanced meals.

The Africa Skills staff equally enjoys the scrump�ous meals and regularly buys food for themselves and their

families. According to Opera�ons Manager of Africa Skills, Ronnelie Stevens, she usually enjoys food that is stately

and well-prepared, but “Feedem is my No 1 kitchen: clean, neat with friendly staff and good cooked food” says

Stevens.

Some staff comments include:

“The aroma of cooked food makes you very hungry”

“Feedem provides learners and staff with excellent service and

nourishing meals, fit to anyone’s taste!”

“Very nice food with a good balance (li/le bit of everything)”

With accolades such as these it is evident that Feedem is a

caterer of high standards – fit for providing meals to our cher-

ished students and staff. A well-balanced and a;rac�ve

meal is one of the cornerstones for a healthy lifestyle, and for

preparing a student to perform to his/her best abili�es.

Feedem makes this important issue a reality!

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AFRICA SKILLS: ONS VERANDER LEWENS! Africa skills staan nie verniet vir “changing people’s lives” bekend nie. Ons kan werklik met

groot dankbaarheid demonstreer hoeveel leerders se lewens verander met die kwaliteit

opleiding wat ons aanbied. Met die behoeWe aan opgeleide vakmanne in Suid-Afrika, kon

ons nie anders as om ons fasiliteite te vergroot en te verbeter om by die groeiende be-

hoeWe aan te pas nie. Africa Skills het nou ‘n tenvolle operasionele koshuis wat 75 leerd-

ers kan huisves en waar hulle 3 etes per dag kry.

Dan is ons ook besig om die werkswinkels waar die leerders prak�ese opleiding kry te

vergroot en te verbeter. Hier sal leerders die geleentheid kry om volgens die voorskriWe

van NAMB kwaliteit opleiding ontvang wat hulle dan weer in die werksplekke kan toepas.

AFRICA SKILLS BRINGS CHANGE TO THE NORTHERN CAPE

Africa Skills (AS), with its head office situated in George, expanded its repertoire to Kathu in the Northern Cape

with great success.

The company’s focus is on facilita�ng a skilled workforce in South Africa to promote and support development,

especially in rural areas. According to Elsie Harmse, managing director, the primary aim of AS is to change the

South African landscape by changing lives, restoring dignity and contribu�ng to ini�a�ves that will not only benefit

the local communi�es, but the country as a whole. Training is not limited to AS’s premises in Kathu, and a group of

42 learners recently completed a skills programme in Domes�c Services in George and surrounds. The learners

enjoyed the unique opportunity to not only travel to another province for their studies, but to also complete

prac�cal training at various host employers in the Southern Cape. Invaluable support was received form the host

employers, namely Bidvest, SanParks, Supercare, Pearl Wilderness, Step Aside and Mountain View Resort.

As Kathu now hosts an official AS site, it has become one of the priority areas of the company. Aligning itself with

the Na�onal Skills Development Strategy (NSDS lll), and offering fully accredited training programmes, contribute

to the reputa�on of AS as a preferred provider na�onwide. Current host employers in the Northern Cape Includes

Eldorado Hotel, Die Oog Guesthouse, Gamagara Lodge, Namakwari Lodge, and Glamarous Events.

“Our offices in Kathu and the projects we manage in the Northern Cape are an example of our con�nuous

commitment towards skills development that will enable increased socio-economic benefits and local economic

development in the areas where it is needed most”, said Harmse. It has always been the mo;o of the company to

engage in projects and training that will enable candidates to become part of development projects and

contribu�ng to their respec�ve areas’ economic growth. The following host employers in the area indicated that

they are looking forward excitedly towards the placement of learners in the very near future: Kathu (The Drain

Surgeon, HSH Construc�on, ML Nkosi Electrical, Bafokeng Plumbing Engineering Construc�on and Trading, Kobus

Duvenhage Bouers cc and Vukani Musa Construc�on), Kuruman (Olivier Construc�on and Zolkrag), and

Postmasburg (Match Cast cc and Powerma�c cc).

Host employers must remember that employees with experience may be eligible for pre- trade tests and trade

tests, issuing them with qualifica�ons based on the recogni�on of prior learning with follow-up training. Carpentry

and woodworking is another area that boasts opportuni�es for the recogni�on of prior learning and trade tes�ng.

AS not only offers accredited skills programmes, but also full qualifica�ons up to NQF level 6 and a full range of

Ar�san Learning Programmes, including trade tes�ng and learnerships. The placement rate is a whopping 85%,

ensuring that learners not only get trained, but receive much-needed experience in the workplace.

The company’s services also include project management services, workplace skills plans and Broad-

Based Black Economic Empowerment Services.

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CORE VALUES AND GOALS

GOALS

Increase revenue and profitability

Improve and expand infrastructure

Advance community development and social

responsibility

Develop and cherish strategic

partnerships

Meaningful training and educa�on

Encourage enterprise development

Excellent service delivery by skilful subject

experts

Africa Skills now offers NATED engineering studies DHET examina�ons. Private learners may enrol for

N1 and N2 Mathema�cs, Engineering Science and Trade Theory subjects. Examina�on Registra�ons

are open from 15 - 22 September 2013.

The cost includes: Examina�on Fee, Administra�on, Registra�on with DHET and Theory text book.

Wri�ng year mark tests is compulsory for learners. Test dates may be obtained from the NATED

Manager.

Learners are welcome to a;end theory classes as per the College training schedule,

available from the NATED Manager.

NATED ENGINEERING DHET

EXAMINATIONS OFFERED

R800 /

subject

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Tel: 044 884 0791

Fax: 044 884 0789

E-mail: info@skillsvillage.co.za

admin@skillsvillage.co.za

Web: www.skillsvillage.co.za

Physical Address:

133 Mitchell Street, George, 6529

Postal Address:

PO Box 9950, George, 6530

BBBEE Status: Certified Level 3

DOMESTIC SERVICES: NORTHERN CAPE

STUDENTS AT HOST EMPLOYERS