28
AUGUST 2019
As part of the National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, there is a practical phase
one that needs to be done in a workshop environment, and a practical phase two that
needs to be done in an engineering design environment.
what is expected of me and know how to
do the job properly. Going forward I will
further my studies but, for the moment,
I am concentrating on getting as much
experience as I can,” she says.
The final example is Basebenzile
Mnyandu, another Mechanical Engineering
graduate of the Mangosuthu University
of Technology. She, unfortunately, sat idle
for almost a year after completing her
theoretical studies as there was nowhere
she could go to do her practical. She says,
“Many of the people I studied with also
battled to find places to do their practical, so
I am extremely grateful that I managed to
secure a place here at Pilot Crushtec. This
has been my dream since I was a kid as I
used to watch my father, a bush mechanic,
who could fix just about anything. I was one
of those kids who took everything in the
house apart just to figure out how it worked.
I was a little worried about being the only
female studying Mechanical Engineering but,
since being at Pilot Crushtec, I know I made
the right decision. My co-workers treat me
like their sister and the work environment is
a pleasure. Over the next few years I would
like to get to a point where I am the best
technician at Pilot Crushtec and justify their
faith in me.”
Going forward I would like to expand the
scope of students’ training programmes
and internships. One thing I would like to
see happen soon is for industry to become
more altruistic – to not necessarily want
something out of the process. I think
the industry has a responsibility to help
our young people who are (not to sound
clichéd) our future. It is that simple.
We need to take the moral high-
ground here and, in return, the powers
that be should incentivise and encourage
programmes across the board. I don’t mean
exclusively financial incentives, but rather to
make it simpler for employers and students
to come together and to build the future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tania Tarr is director of HR &
Organisational Development at Pilot
Crushtec. She has a BA Degree from
Wits and has been employed at Pilot
Crushtec for 10 years.
Tania is passionate about making
a difference in people’s lives and is
the driving force behind the practical
experience that Pilot Crushtec offers so
that students can graduate with diplomas.
Tania particularly enjoys harnessing the
organisational development aspects of
her role to provide hope and growth to
all who cross her path, whether they be
employees or trainees.
stakeholders to help streamline the process
to make it easier for companies to offer
these types of training programmes, but we
do understand this will take time.
Over the years Pilot Crushtec has
become known to students at all campuses
across South Africa and applications pour in
from all corners of the country. We receive
many applications throughout the year
from students wishing to complete their
diplomas by doing their practical phases
through us and we are blessed to have such
a good reputation. The unfortunate thing
is that we cannot accommodate everyone
who approaches us. It breaks my heart to
have to turn so many people away who
are hungry to learn, eager to work and can
make a real difference in the future of South
Africa. I urge all companies to take up the
gauntlet and start similar programmes.
Even if they take on a single learner, it will
make a difference. It is so sad to consider
that someone who has done their three-
year theory course, cannot complete their
diploma and graduate. Sometimes they sit
at home for years at a time before they can
graduate and then again, before they are
gainfully employed in their chosen field.
One of the beneficiaries of the Pilot
Crushtec Internship initiative is Lerato
Modisapuli, who studied for a Diploma
in Financial Management at Ekurhuleni
West College.
“After doing the 18-month theoretical
side of the course I was lucky enough to
get into Pilot Crushtec to do the practical
part of the course. Since being here,
management and colleagues have been
incredibly supportive, and have given
me an opportunity to experience a wide
variety of functions within the company.
This experience has led me to want to
pursue my education further and eventually
go all the way and become a chartered
accountant. I think that my education
will be more of a journey and not just a
destination,” says Modisapuli.
Another Pilot Crushtec success story
is Luyanda Nxele, a graduate of the
Mangosuthu University of Technology in
KwaZulu-Natal.
“After completing the theory section for
my Diploma in Mechanical Engineering I
started at Pilot Crushtec where I completed
both P1 and P2 and received my diploma.
I was fortunate that they saw potential in
me and offered me a trainee position and
then a junior service technician role. One of
the most important parts of my experience
has been the real-world application of the
theory. There are rumours that practical
experience should be dropped from the
process of getting a diploma, but I feel
that only after experiencing the practical
side of things, do I now really understand
INSIGHT
Tania Tarr
www.equipmentandhire.co.za