South Africa recently celebrated its highest-ever matric pass rate, with 87.3% of students achieving success in the 2024 examinations. While this is a cause for celebration, many young South Africans now face the crucial decision of their next steps.

Juan Hanekom, national director of the South African Motor Body Repairers Association (Sambra), a Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) division, emphasises the importance of exploring diverse career options beyond university.

“University is not the only path to a fulfilling career,” says Hanekom. “The motor body repair (MBR) sector offers many opportunities for rewarding and successful careers.”

Professor Nadine Petersen, executive dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Johannesburg, agrees. “The university cannot accommodate all students who achieve bachelor’s passes. The narrative is that higher education is the only path to success. There are many respectable career paths available through other forms of post-school education, and we need to prioritise these options more strongly.”

The MBR industry presents an exciting and viable alternative for those who did not qualify for university. It offers excellent opportunities for growth, stability, and success. Many skills can be acquired through in-house training or by attending one of the 50 registered and accredited public TVET colleges across South Africa. Matriculants are encouraged to explore the Khetha career portal of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to learn more about the various qualifications offered by TVET colleges, including highly sought-after artisanal qualifications.

Addressing skills shortages

Hanekom highlights the significant skills shortage within the MBR industry, which creates a high demand for well-trained professionals. Contrary to outdated perceptions, the sector offers diverse roles beyond technical positions. These include:

• Technical: Motor body repair, sophisticated spray-painting techniques

• Non-technical: Administration, customer service, workshop management, finance

• Hybrid: Damage estimation, combining technical knowledge with administrative skills (eg: vehicle damage quantifier – VDQ)

A new era in apprentice training

A significant shift occurred on July 1, 2024. There was a transition from legacy qualifications to occupational qualifications. This marks a new era in apprentice training programmes, empowering accredited training providers, including public TVET colleges and private training centres, to play a vital role.

Under this new system, training providers will deliver the theoretical and practical components of training, while employers will provide essential workplace experience for apprentices. This collaborative approach ensures apprentices gain comprehensive, real-world skills that meet the evolving needs of the industry.

Hanekom encourages employers and young people to engage with accredited training providers in their area. “By embracing this change we can collectively shape a skilled workforce for the future,” he says.

A rewarding career path

The artisan programmes offered at TVET Colleges provide an excellent entry point into the workforce, with virtually guaranteed employment upon qualification. “Qualified tradespeople are highly respected worldwide,” Hanekom states. “In many countries, they earn more than doctors or lawyers.”

“We need young, talented individuals to join our industry and help it thrive,” concludes Hanekom. “With the right skills and training, they can build a stable and prosperous career.”

Source: Cathy Findley PR