chronic unemployment problem. Future artisans,
especially women, should know that there is a
vast spectrum of possibilities in the industry and
anyone with an open mindset can achieve success
if they take advantage of the opportunities made
available to them with both hands – just as Ms
Mukhari has done.
From cleaning offices at a local police station
to becoming STC’s first female instructor, Ms
Mukhari is a stellar example for others with
similar aspirations. Clearly, the world is her
oyster and we, at SEIFSA, cannot wait to see her
next move.
Hunadi Molefe
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Hunadi and
her family had to move back to Ga-Nchabeleng,
in Limpopo from where she hails. Unfortunately,
that meant that she was in an area with limited
companies that could indenture her.
“I spent eight years doing odd jobs such as being
a cashier at a grocery store, doing administration
for a local company and then becoming a news
reader for a local radio station. I was grateful that
I, at least, was not unemployed, but my passion of
being an engineer remained unfulfilled. I wanted
more to be an engineer, so I didn’t stop applying
for positions at Engineering firms.”
When she received a call from the SEIFSA
Training Centre in 2013, Hunadi says she was
ecstatic: “It was a challenge getting back into a
technical space after an eight-year hiatus. It took
hard work and determination.”
The Facilitators at the SEIFSA Training Centre
were very supportive and that made it less
challenging for Hunadi to get back on the saddle.
She was one of three female apprentices out of
10 selected by SEIFSA.
Hunadi went on to work at Rheem South
Africa’s (SA) Alrode Plant, where she was placed
by SEIFSA. Rheem SA is an industrial packaging
manufacturer with operations in Durban, Alrode,
Vanderbijlpark, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.
Thirty-three-year-old Hunadi Mofele is one of
the 10 apprentices that SEIFSA has sponsored.
Hunadi studied Electrical Engineering at
Ekurhuleni East College in Springs and completed
her N6 in 2003. She explains that her interest
in Engineering was sparked by the fact that it
was foreign to her. “I didn’t know anyone in the
engineering field at the time, it was intriguing,”
she professes.
“My experience at Rheem SA has afforded me
the opportunity to put into practice what I was
taught at the Training Centre and also exposed
me to the dynamics of working in an engineering
environment which is different from any other
industry I have worked in before, she says.
“I think the best way for me to show gratitude
to SEIFSA and Rheem SA is to go forward and
create opportunities for others like me who
want to contribute positively to the economy of
South Africa,” she concludes.
The Way Forward
SEIFSA, through its STC, remains committed
to quality training and inspiring excellence in
young learners. Without apprenticeships leading
to quality artisans, our prospects for a growing
economy and meeting the need to provide jobs
for the millions of unemployed young people will
remain.
“The average age of an artisan in South Africa
is 54, which means that 70 percent of artisans
currently employed will retire in the next five to
six years. New blood in the industry is absolutely
vital for our economy. We are confident in the
quality of the STC curriculum, and the calibre of
our apprentices. Both our focus on quality and
our former students’ skills will drive demand
from companies that wish to take on apprentices.
“We have capacity to train 400 candidates per
year, hence we can make a significant contribution
towards the reduction of the shortage of the
12,500 artisans that South Africa needs on an
annual basis. The SEIFSA Training Centre provides
a steady stream of ready-to-work and skilled
graduates for companies,” said Mr Uithaler.
The STC has supplied graduates to companies
such as Rotek, Macsteel, Aberdare and BCE,
amongst others.
Hunadi says that she would ultimately like to
be a Millwright. Her plan is to study Mechanical
Engineering on a part-time basis and then go on
and write the trade test to become a Millwright.
Thereafter, she would like to do a Business
Management course because her ultimate dream
is to start her own company.
SEIFSA AT 75 - SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE
66