INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
CONTRIBUTORS
Image by © Cold Link Africa
Carlos De Mendonca , general manager of Crossberth at a previous GCCA seminar in Johannesburg , alongside Lizelle van der Berg , previous executive director of GCCA Africa .
Unfortunately , there are big gaps in the South African educational system which has left 85 % of adults in South Africa without access to educational opportunities beyond formal ( often inadequate ) schooling . This means that the burden for vocational education and training falls upon the employer . It is in the employer ’ s best interests to equip their staff with effective workplace skills especially where there is a skills gap compromising employee safety , food safety , efficiency and profitability . However , many of the required skills fall outside existing training programmes or accredited qualifications which forces businesses to train employees in-house . This is where Robin ’ s contributions shine — providing hands-on courses on foundational topics for workers who work in cold store and food processing environments , for example picking and packing skills , principles of the cold chain and food safety , and production skills for processing fish at sea like sorting , trimming , grading , net mass , packing and freezing products . In addition to providing skills to businesses , the academy ' s mission is to raise the skills level in the sector and to uplift even the most disadvantaged individuals by equipping them with the vital skills needed in the industry .
For the refrigeration component we have A Perks Enterprises , established in 1996 , with Andrew Perks and his associate Christopher Kent , both highly trained and skilled refrigeration engineers , bringing a wealth of expertise to the academy . What sets the academy apart is its location on a site with a fully operational , low-temperature ammonia cold storage facility . This unique setup with passionate involved engineers allows students to safely gain real , on-the-job experience .
Since partnering with the Ammonia Safety Training Institute ( ASTI ) in the US , A Perks Enterprises has expanded its training offerings to cover critical emergency response techniques for ammonia plants for both end users and the authorities .
At the end of October 2024 A Perks Enterprises is providing specialised training at the academy to Transnet and Cape Town ’ s Disaster Management Services , focusing on ammonia incident management and safety protocols .
Technician competence refrigeration training will be handled by Gerhard Koch of Ammonia Training Solutions ( ATS ), another key partner in the academy . ATS is currently a certified training provider with SAQCC Gas and will soon offer accredited Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association ( RETA ) training . While SAQCC Gas certification is mandatory for local technicians , RETA certification is increasingly recognised as the international standard for work beyond South Africa ’ s borders .
With a strong foundation secured , the Crossberth & Future People Practice Centre & Training Academy is wellpositioned to expand and meet the growing needs of the fishing and cooling industry . Structured as a non-profit NGO , the academy aims to continuously evolve its offerings as new demands emerge , ensuring a comprehensive and adaptable training base .
The future is bright , and exciting times lie ahead . CLA
It is in the employer ’ s best interests to equip their staff with effective workplace skills especially where there is a skills gap compromising employee safety , food safety , efficiency and
profitability .
COLD LINK AFRICA • November / December 2024 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za 27
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