Five-year plan aims to address skills shortages in South Africa's tyre sector

A skills shortage that exists in the South African tyre sector is set to be addressed by a comprehensive five-year plan.

The South African Tyre Equipment Parts Association (TEPA) says it is making significant strides in tackling this skills shortage, and its five-year plan aims to modernise and align training programmes with the evolving demands of the sector to ensure future relevance and sustainability.

“The South African skills development landscape is undergoing significant changes, with the phasing out of SAQA historical qualifications and their replacement with QCTO (Quality Council for Trades & Occupations) occupational qualifications,” said Angie Frederics, TEPA’s Training Committee leader.

“While this shift aims to enhance skills training, it has created short-term challenges for Skills Development Providers to enrol new learners into skills programmes.”

 The transition deadline for SAQA qualifications was June 30, 2024, yet not all programmes have successfully transitioned to QCTO qualifications. This has left gaps, particularly in critical programmes such as automotive servicing and tyre sales, which are yet to be registered under the QCTO framework.

For the time being, Skills Development Providers can only offer two approved programmes under SAQA’s extended qualifications: Tyre Repairer (SP0561) and Wheel Alignment (SP0963).

However, several key skills programmes, including automotive component diagnostics, tyre and parts sales, and divisional management, remain unavailable until their QCTO counterparts are registered. This has delayed the rollout of much-needed training for new entrants and professionals seeking to upskill.

TEPA’s five-year plan

The first year of TEPA’s five year plan will focus on reviewing and aligning existing legacy skills programmes with QCTO standards. This involves updating programme content to meet current and future industry needs.

In the second year, TEPA will begin creating new skills programmes to address gaps in the current offerings and prepare for the next phases of the plan.

The third year will see pilot programmes being launched at select fitment centres which will aim to refine the implementation process, gather feedback and address any challenges before a broader rollout.

In the fourth year, the full rollout of finalised skills programmes will begin, involving extensive collaboration with stakeholders. Accredited training providers and fitment centres will be key partners in delivering these programmes nationwide.

Finally the fifth year will see marketing and outreach campaigns aiming to drive participation from industry professionals and attract new talent into the sector. The focus will be on creating career pathways and promoting the opportunities available in the tyre industry.

“The success of this plan hinges on collective action. TEPA is committed to working with all stakeholders, including merSETA and training providers, to ensure we meet the industry’s skills demands while fostering inclusivity and growth,” Frederics concluded.

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