SA Affordable Housing March/April 2021 | Page 28

TRAINING

Tjeka ’ s Randfontein Training Centre trains builders for large rollout of affordable housing projects

By David Poggiolini
Affordable housing projects are among some of the high-impact interventions that government intends executing “ swiftly and effectively ” to support a rapid economic rebound .

These projects have the potential to stimulate growth and

develop other economic sectors . This is in addition to addressing informal settlements , dilapidated townships and rural housing that provide sub-standard living conditions , while also undermining efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 .
Affordable housing projects will also create many direct and indirect jobs in a country that has been grappling with
Tjeka aerial view .
Plastering area
ALL IMAGES : TJEKA TRAINING high unemployment for many years . The situation has been severely exacerbated by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic . Unemployment levels are at their highest at about 30.8 %, exceeding the first quarter of 2020 figure of30.1 %.
A total of 18 housing projects , which together make up more than 190 000 residential units , have been gazetted by government . This is a significant undertaking that will also rely heavily on a coordinated approach to training in various building trades .
Tjeka Training Matters ’ state-of-the-art training centre in Randfontein , Gauteng , has helped build a robust pipeline of building skills since it commenced operations in 2012 . The training centre is also now prepared to receive more learners ahead of government ’ s large infrastructure-investment drive .
It has trained employees from some of the country ’ s foremost contractors , participants in the building construction supply chains and government bodies . This is in addition to the many individuals who have launched their careers in the construction industry by enrolling directly in various training programmes available at the facility .
Frans Toua , Chief Executive Officer of Tjeka Training Matters , attributes the high success rate of the company ’ s training interventions to an intense focus on providing skills people need to earn a living in the building industries .
“ At our training centre , we aim to impart skills that people can use to secure jobs , excel in their chosen fields of expertise or become self-employed . This is opposed to training for the sake of it and just to meet the requirements of the scorecard – a narrow-minded approach that has thwarted real efforts geared at addressing the skills shortage in the South African construction industry . The fact that clients continue to use the services of the facility for their training requirements and individuals return to the centre to hone or expand their competencies is evidence of the success of our approach ,” Toua says .
Tjeka Training Matters ’ training centre in Randfontein is equipped to provide training that is geared specifically for the building industry .
For example , it has the capacity to present a myriad of building , supervisory and managerial courses to more than 200 candidates at any point in time at a single location .
As a private Technical and Vocational Education and Training college , Tjeka Training Matters can also adapt the content of its
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