The Dome Guides Association (DGA), was established during September 2013 with a democratically elected management committee and an approved constitution. The Association represents the interests of registered tourist guides and tourist operators in the Vredefort Dome area. The Association is recognised by the Free State and North-West Provincial Tourism Departments as well as the S.A. National Department of Tourism.
The DGA management committee negotiated and consulted widely with tourism authorities from Municipal level up to National level, in order to promote tourism and legalize tourist guiding in the Vredefort Dome area.
Concern was expressed about the large number of unqualified and unregistered Adventure Guides at present operating in the Dome Area.
In order to address the abovementioned situation the DGA approached the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sports Sector Education and training Authority (CATHSSETA) for a discretionary grant to finance the training of some of these illegal adventure guides. In 2015 a total of thirty (30) unqualified guides were trained and registered with the Department of Tourism.
The DGA was recently notified by Cathsseta that another discretionary grant application was approved for the training of thirty (30) unqualified/unregistered adventure guides.
To secure the CATHSSETA grant the DGA must urgently submit a list of 30 unqualified adventure guides to the Authority. The due date is 6 October 2017. We, therefore, urgently request operators and adventure guides to submit applications to participate in this skills program, to reach the DGA by 2 October 2017, at the Association’s offices in 72 Breë Street, REAL Adventures, Parys.
The training authority appointed by the DGA is Adventure Qualifications Network (AQN), an accredited training service provider with CATHSSETA.
A selection panel will consider applicants before the list of prospective candidates will be submitted to CATHSSETA for their final approval.
To be considered for this skills program the applicants must comply with the following selection criteria:
1. Educational standard: Minimum Grade 10. Preference may be given to Grade 12 applicants as the academic standard of the skills program is at Grade 12 level.
2. Applicants must have RSA citizenship or have a valid work permit in order to register on the program.
3. Applicants must proof their competency in swimming, if a river guide.
4. Applicants must prove their adventure guiding experience by submitting trip log sheets approved by their operator(s) at least 21 days and must currently be operating as an adventure guide.
5. Applicants must submit written recommendation(s) from operator(s) where they have done guiding work.
6. Applicants will have to proof good communication skills in English.
7. Applicants must be available for training and assessment for approximately 2 months and be committed to completing the course in the allocated time.
For more information contact: Bennie Pretorius – 082 885 3546