Cold Link Africa May/Jun 2017 | Page 16

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN WorldSkills SA 2017 competition raises awareness By John Ackermann The WorldSkills South Africa (WSSA) competition held in Durban in February celebrated the talent of young artisans and raised awareness of the importance of the artisanal sector in the economy of South Africa. W SSA was held in the Old Station exhibition hall from 14 to16 February 2017, bringing together young artisans from 22 sectors. These included: welding, hairdressing, brick laying, beauty therapy, web design, electrical installation, restaurant services, cooking, auto body repairs, aquatronics, plumbing and heating, mechatronics, mobile robotics, plastering and dry wall, automobile technology, refrigeration and air conditioning. From the Saturday, the hall was a hive of activity as each sector established a work station. Bob Vuletic of Multistage Cooling excelled in trucking down the four stands from Johannesburg and some equipment for the competition. “The equipment on the refrigeration and air conditioning booth was excellent and of a high standard,” commented Andre Vermeulen, SA technical delegate of WorldSkills. Most of the equipment, components and consumables was generously donated by: Afrox, Metraclark, 16 Multistage Cooling, OTTC and loaned by the Western Cape technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college and TVET South, Tshwane. The 2017 WSSA competition was hosted and arranged by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). By the Monday evening, all was set for the competition and started with a glittering opening in the Durban ICCT. Competitors, judges, VIPs, technical experts and training providers, were entertained before the official opening by Minister of the Department of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande. Dr Raymond Patel, CEO Right: Lionald Wooldridge at his workstation working against the clock. Below: After the closing ceremony, from left: ‘Boenie’ Louw (Tshwane South College), Peter Hoetmer (Metraclark), Valentin Valente (OTTC), Tyrone Bunce (Standard Refrigeration), Lionald Wooldridge (OTTC) and Bob Vuletic (Multistage Cooling). www.coldlinkafrica.co.za COLD LINK AFRICA • May | June 2017