Mobility Services’ Skills Project: A SAVRALA legacy for 2010 and beyond …

August 2009

SAVRALA’s Mobility Services’ Skills Project pilot programme - facilitated in conjunction with the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority (THETA), education consultant Sarel Visagie, Ikaheng HR Services and LearnCorp - has proven a resounding success with the first 15 trainees being awarded their diplomas at a luncheon held on Friday, 17th July. Of the 15 graduates, five are currently unemployed and with their newfound business skills, each is now eager to find gainful employment within the professional passenger transport sector.

The purpose of the programme is to establish a training and development programme under the auspices of SAVRALA and in association with the THETA to address the shortage of fully trained chauffeurs and professional passenger transport during the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup event and beyond. Learners that complete this skills programme will earn credits towards the National Certificate: Professional Driving

Mobility services problems were identified during the World Summit for Sustainable Development which was held in Johannesburg in 2002. During this event, the need for professional transport became evident as qualified drivers had to be brought in from around South Africa to operate as chauffeurs in Gauteng. They were not familiar with the surroundings and also not fully trained to operate as chauffeurs which lead to complaints from visitors and Summit delegates alike.

In an effort to address this problem, SAVRALA’s Mobility Services’ Skills Project is targeting chauffeurs and/or drivers currently employed by association member organisations. While these will account for 70% of the trainees, the balance will be recruited from the following categories:

• Unemployed graduates registered on the THETA database,

• Qualified tour guides wishing to become employed as chauffeurs or professional passenger transport operators,

• Tour operators wanting to specialise or extend their services to chauffeur drive services and

• Unemployed persons wishing to find gainful employment or self-employment in the mobility services industry.

To be eligible for entry to the skills programme, learners must possess communication skills equivalent to NQF Level 4 and be competent in Mathematical Literacy and Financial Literacy at NQF Level 3. Learners who are currently employed will, preferably, have workplace experience with passenger transport processes at NQF Level 3 or the equivalent.

Learners must:

• Be older than 21 years of age,

• Be in possession of an unendorsed valid driver’s licence with an expiry date after December 2010,

• Have a valid category “P” public driving permit or fulfil the conditions to obtain a category “P” public driving permit,

• Pass an online driver profiling test.

• Have been a resident of one of the 2010 Soccer World Cup host cities for at least three years and

• Pass a placement test in English communications skills.

With the first learner intake having successfully completed the programme, SAVRALA now awaits the green light from THETA in order to roll out the Mobility Services’ Skills Project on a national basis.

In the words of one of the graduates currently employed by a SAVRALA member company, “we have been pumped full of knowledge and are now road-wise, professional drivers. As the pilot group, we thank you and are pleased to know that you will be rolling out this programme and giving others like us, such a great opportunity.

“Viva SAVRALA, viva!”