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By Thebe Mabanga
The Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) will be taking 100 electrical engineering graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and universities of technology to China for training on maintenance and repairs of Electric Vehicles (EVs).
This was revealed by TETA CEO Maphefo Anno-Frempong in an exclusive interview with Inside Education.
“We are looking to create a strong pipeline of EV technicians,” she said on the 12-month programme that will see graduates trained in the maintenance and repairs of hybrid and electric engines for electric vehicles and bikes.
Anno-Frempong said this was motivated by the growing presence of Chinese car manufacturers in South Africa, and while the EV market in South Africa was relatively small, the graduates would be trained in these models of vehicles.
This was also part of TETA’s strategic goals to contribute to South Africa’s energy transition.
Anno-Frempong recently visited China and spent time in the six regions, institutions and manufacturers that would be hosting the students. Six of them are from universities of technology and 94 from TVET colleges.
They include the Zhejiang Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, the Tisen Heavy Industry company in Hangzhou, the Dezhou Vocational and Technical College, the Shandong Sifang Technician College and the Yunnei Group.
Anno-Frempong said while there, she noted how the automotive industry in China backed TVET colleges through donations of buildings, equipment and expertise for learners to benefit from specialised training. South African learners would now benefit from this exposure.
The programme mostly focuses on in-service training. It is funded by TETA together with Chinese hosting institutions.
She said programme would last for five years and in that period, they aimed to develop qualifications that could be offered by local TVET colleges and recognised by the industry.
Anno-Frempong said TETA’s other contribution to the energy transition was to help investigate opportunities offered by green hydrogen, which was viewed as a clean source of energy.
“Our interest in green hydrogen is its storage and transportation, which will be specialised as it is a hazardous substance.”
Last year, TETA alongside the chemical industries Seta, CHIETA, as well as the Mining Qualification Authority established the Green Hydrogen Centre of Specialisation at the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria.
Video by: Katlego Tshekoesele
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