AgriSETA News


RETIREMENT OF AGRISETA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

After leading the AgriSETA (formerly PAETA) for eight years, it is the wish of the CEO, Machiel van Niekerk to retire. Following consultations with the Governing Board, it was decided that a planned process to replace Machiel will be followed and that this process will be implemented in such a manner that it causes the minimum of disruption internally as well as with stakeholders.

Therefore, whilst the post of the CEO was advertised on 1 June 2008, Machiel will continue as the CEO until such time as a suitable replacement had been identified and contracted. Once the new incumbent takes up the CEO post, Machiel has made himself available for a further period of six months to assist and guide the new incumbent into “the world of SETAs” and to stakeholders in the sector.

Given the strong relationship Machiel has built with stakeholders in the sector at large (including government); we believe that this is the responsible approach in replacing him and to ensure that our sector is serviced as in the past. As Machiel said himself “it is time to pass on the baton”.

Please click here for the advertisement for the post of the AgriSETA CEO as it appeared in the media on Sunday 1 June 2008.

WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK – MANAGING RISK ON WORK ENVIRONMENT

The Department of Labour had the World Day for Safety and Health at work at the Sahara Oval Cricket Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday 9th May 2008. Speakers ranged from Mr Rob Ferrie of the National Institute of Occupational Health, Mr Vic van Vuuren of BUSA, Ms Mary Malete, President of FEDUSA and Mr Joseph Maqhekeni, President of NACTU. The keynote address was given by the Minister of Labour, Mr Membathusu Mdladlana. He was declaring war on worker-right violating employers. The full speech can be accessed on
Minister declares war on worker-right violating employers

SSC PRIMARY AGRICULTURE

After the Governing Board meeting held in October 2007, the decision to establish a Primary Sub Sector Committee was made. The Primary SSC had their first meeting in March 2008 at the AgriSETA Offices. The purpose of this meeting was to formally constitute the SSC.Thereafter the SSC members were orientated re their role and functions (in line with the AgriSETA constitution) and at the same time members were briefed on the new developments with regards to skills development in the country with specific reference to the OFO (Organising Framework for Occupations) and the QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations).

The first real task of the Primary SSC (jointly with all other existing SSCs), will be to meet early in July with the purpose of “cleaning up” the OFO and to, in workshop format, guide the Skills Planning Department with regards to scarce and critical skills in the sector. In-depth, accurate knowledge of scarce and critical skills is required in order for AgriSETA to be in a position to allocate its discretionary funds appropriately.


MANDATORY GRANTS

A reminder the closing date for submissions of Mandatory Grants and Annual Training Reports is on Monday 30 June 2008. Agriseta > Levies and Grants

Contact persons are
Amandie Gerber on amandie@agriseta.co.za or
Racquel Bergman on racquel@agriseta.co.za or
Lulu Engelbrecht on lulu@agriseta.co.za

TENDERS

INVITATION TO PROSPECTIVE SUPPLIERS TO REGISTER ON THE LIST OF PROSPECTIVE SUPPLIERS OF AgriSETA

AgriSETA has a list of prospective suppliers which is valid until March 2010.This list is updated on a quarterly basis

3^rd quarter update closes on Monday 02 September 2008
4^th quarter update closes on Monday 02 December 2008

Interested suppliers who would like to register on the list of prospective suppliers should first check to ensure that the commodities they wish to apply for. Only suppliers that submit the correct documents will be considered for registration on the list of prospective suppliers. Suppliers will be informed whether their application was accepted or not. For further information, please check under our Tenders menu. Agriseta > Tenders

AGRI/0809/AT/CON004
The appointment of one or more qualified training providers to provide Assessor Training in various provinces. Agriseta > Tenders Closing date for the submission of the application is 17 June 2008 at 11.00.

ABET NEWS

HIK Abalone Farm awarded twenty-one adult learners with ABET certificates in English Literacy and Numeracy at a graduation ceremony held in Hermanus. A culmination of an ongoing ABET intervention in partnership with ABET specialist Media Works, HIK Abalone aims to involve up to 80% of its workforce through this programme. These learners are participating in the AgriSETA / Media Works ABET Project, as well as in the Department of Agriculture / Media Works ABET Project.

“An assessment of our workforce’s skills needs revealed that a large proportion of our employees could not communicate in English, which negatively influenced the effectiveness of our farming operations,” explains Louise Jansen, Director and Hatchery Manager, HIK Abalone Farm.

Although English is accepted as the standard language for business in South Africa, English literacy continues to be a much needed skill at a number of companies.

“Principally, our employees identified English communication skills as their main educational need,” said Jansen, “And with the introduction of the Media Works ABET programme, we aim to increase literacy levels significantly, possibly to a point where we don’t need a translator to relay work instructions.”

ABET specialists Media Works, which offers a multi-media self-paced learning product combined with face-to-face facilitation, came on board in June 2006, providing an ABET programme that was well received by employees.

“To date, a total of 62 ABET levels have been passed. This is indeed an excellent achievement,” said Caroline Knoetze, Media Works Western Cape Project Manager.

On completion of the ABET training, HIK Abalone Farm plans to introduce more complex job-specific training programmes. Emphasising the importance of managerial support and individual learner discipline, Knoetze states, “The success of HIK Abalone’s ABET programme can be attributed to all the partners; the tremendous support of HIK Abalone’s management, their dedicated facilitators and of course the hard working learners”.

ACCELERATED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME

Due to the critical national shortage of artisans in South Africa, the Department of Labour launched a project whereby young persons with the correct qualifications could participate in a two year artisan development programme. The AgriSETA fully participates in this initiative. Coupled to this, the Foodbev SETA approached AgriSETA to; in a joint venture engage in an apprenticeship project. Foodbev SETA had done a field analysis amongst its stakeholders with regard to the training of artisans. Upon results of the field analysis an application was made to the National Skills Fund (NSF) for funds which was approved. On allocation of the available funds for the training of artisans it became apparent that Foodbev stakeholders would not be able to take up all of the “bursaries”. Foodbev approached AgriSETA for taking up some of these bursaries since AgriSETA as a domain is the “supplier” of input commodities to Foodbev in a lot of instances. Since artisans form part and parcel of the critical scarce categories AgriSETA accepted the invitation. AgriSETA was to commit 100 learners for this project.

AgriSETA then implemented an accelerated artisan development programme.

Enterprises in our sector were approached and firm commitments were obtained from 25 of our large enterprises, in total engage 247 apprentices. Most learners were contracted in trades covering millwrights’ fitters, fitter and turners, boilermakers, electricians, cooling/refrigeration and diesel/tractor mechanics. All those learners are pre-employed learners.

It was decided that for each learner an amount of R72 000 will be paid over the period of two years. This training and development of artisans is an accelerated project due to the fact that funds are available for only 2 years. Since it’s an accelerated project, recruitment and selection was of the utmost importance. As far as possible learners who held a minimum of N2 with applicable trade theory were recruited. In many instances learners do have more than the N2.

This will ensure that learners will gain according to statutory requirements enough workplace experience in order to complete their respective trades with a trade test.

Employers recruited learners and signed two party contracts for the duration of the training and development. Workplaces are in the process of being approved and learners are in various stages of their training as artisans.

The total apprenticeships in the sector are:
Poultry = 68; Feeds 24; Tobacco=2; Sugar=85 and Fruit=4 and Grain Industry=64

AgriSETA CEO, Machiel van Niekerk, says “Technical skills are in great demand in our sector and this partnership will enable us to fast-track our plan to provide work experience to apprentices who have completed their theoretical training”.

All funds for the accelerated programme had already been allocated. However AgriSETA continues with funding of the standard apprenticeship programme (which is normally concluded over a four year training period.)

In the case of Apprenticeships, application for funding is towards training cost, academic supplies (books, tools and equipment associated with the programme/course) and accommodation to the maximum of:

Employed - R15 000 (plus VAT, if applicable) per learner per annum
Unemployed - R15 000 (plus VAT, if applicable), plus R 7 800 stipend (no VAT applicable) per learner per annum.

Stakeholders will need to sign an agreement with AgriSETA. Contractual arrangements will be done, and training will be provided in accordance with the and the Conditions of Apprenticeship.

Payment Tranches for Apprenticeships

1^st Tranche: An initial amount of maximum 50% will be paid to the Stakeholder, upon submission of:

• The apprenticeship contract
• Memorandum of Agreement with AgriSETA
• Beneficiary Information Sheet (Annexure B of the Agreement),
• Copy of Identity Document (ID)
• Stakeholder Invoice
• Medical report

2^nd Tranche: The remaining amount of maximum 50% will be paid to the Stakeholder, upon submission of:

• A stakeholder Invoice
• A Mid Term Log book status report on the beneficiary (Accuracy of ID numbers are important)

Further information regarding Apprenticeships can be accessed on our website under Discretionary Grants Agriseta > Discretionary Grants

MEADOW FEEDS CENTRAL REGION ADDRESSES SCARCE AND CRITICAL SKILLS BY ENROLLING 11 APPRENTICES

There has been a growing demand for artisans, qualified in various trades, over the past couple of years. This has been caused by the large amount of construction projects in the country, the age profile of qualified artisans and the reduction in the number of apprentices being trained by companies.

Meadow Feeds Central region has also seen their skills base diminish as well-qualified and experienced artisans have moved into the mining and construction industries. In order to ensure the productivity of their mills and address the skills shortage in the country, the Central Region embarked on an apprenticeship programme in 2008. This was done in conjunction with the AgriSETA

After advertising for candidates, strict selection criteria and aptitude tests followed the initial interview process. The result was a wonderful mix of candidates from various backgrounds who will now receive on-the-job training of the highest caliber.They will also attend training schools in order to receive the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge, the cost of which will be borne by the respective Meadow operations.

The Welkom Apprentices: Lucia Kgasmin (electrician)
and Topaz van Zyl (Fitter & Turner)

The project is monitored by the Regional Engineering Manager,
Neil Mienie, and Luanne Smalle from Human Resources. They are assisted by the respective maintenance managers and mentors, Jaco Pretorius (Delmas), Hennie Schutte (Delmas), Sakkie Ueckerman (Randfontein) and Abey Botha (Welkom).

We wish them well on this journey, which will culminate in their trade test examination in November of 2009. We want to ensure that we deliver outstanding artisans, who may be employed either in our own industry or be an asset to any company that appoints them.

Welkom apprentices
Topaz van Zyl (Fitter & Turner) and Lucia Kgasmin (electrician)
Randfontein apprentices
Gaven Hendrik (Fitter), Neo Semelande (Electrician), Brutus Thangoane (Fitter), Jan Nortier (Electrician) and Penny Mahese (Boilermaker)
Delmas apprentices
Phillip Henry (Millwright), Panuwell Thusi (Millwright), Aaron Siluma (Diesel Mechanic) and Jacques Albertyn (Boilermaker)

SKILLS DELIVERY

FEEDBACK FROM SOME OF OUR LEARNERS

Learnership: National Certificate: Fruit Packing and Grading Processes

Andries Maroem

Andries Maroem grew up on Saron and matriculated at Roodezandt Secondary High School. In April 1994 he began working for Stellenpak as a palletiser. During his first year, Andries was promoted to machine operator. In 1995, Andries went to work for Du Cap as a dispatch clerk; he returned to Stellenpak in the same year to help in the dispatch department. He also got involved at the cold stores and with the driving of forklifts.
Despite the above, Andries felt that there was something missing in his life. He was looking for challenges and wanted to equip himself with knowledge in the fruit packing industry. He also wanted to become better qualified so that he would be able to earn a higher wage and look after his family better. At the start of 2006, AgriSETA provided Stellenpak with funding to present the learnership, National Certificate: Fruit Packing and Grading Processes, at their packhouse. Andries’ Manager, Gert Koen, asked him to participate in the learnership. Initially, Andries was a bit reluctant to go on the learnership, but at the end, he decided to do it. Today, Andries does not regret going on the learnership. He says he enjoyed the learnership and learned a lot. Andries is one of the people who succeed in applying what he has learned, in the learnership, to the workplace and in his job. He is a very positive individual, a very good leader, and does outstanding work in the packhouse. Before the learnership, nobody was aware of Andries’ unbelievable potential to develop.

After finishing the learnership, Andries Maroem was appointed as Production Supervisor at Stellenpak. Andries admits that if it was not for AgriSETA, he never would have had the opportunity to develop enough to work in such a senior position. “I owe a great deal of thanks to AgriSETA and Stellenpak for the opportunities that they have given me”.

Learnership: National Certificate: Fruit Packing and Grading Processes

Katie van Wyk

Katie van Wyk was born in Kimberley on 22 February 1968 as part of a family (household) consisting of three brothers and four sisters

She passed Grade 11 (Standard 9) at Humansdorp Senior Secondary School in 1987 and started to work for Patensie Sitrus Beperk as a Day-worker (General Worker) during the 1998 fruit packing season. She started in the Lemon-division under supervision of Me. E de Ridder, but, during May 2000, she was promoted to Supervisor of the ODDA-graders. She worked in this position for the following two years and was later appointed as Supervisor for ODDA-packers until the end of 2004. During the 2005 season, Katie was promoted to Assistant Line-manager at ODDA.

During 2006, Katie attended a Supervisor training course, and during 2007 a learnership (National Certificate: Fruit Packing and Grading Processes). The learnership was financed by AgriSETA. On 5 May 2008, she was promoted to Interim Head of the ODDA-division. AgriSETA has assisted Katie to develop her skills. The development has helped her to make upward progress (i.e. promotion) in her organisation. We want to wish her well for the future.

AGRISETA PERSONNEL

Addition

Mr Manuel de Bruin joined the Skills delivery Departments as Administrator. He will administer and manage all administration documentation and liaise statistics between the relevant departments. We look forward to an accurate administration system in the Skills Delivery Department.

Resignation

Sonia Mathe the Skills planning Co coordinator: Reporting resigned in April 2008. The Skills Planning Department is currently restructuring. The Governing Board approved a new structure for the Skills Planning Department which creates a post for a Skills Planning Admin Manager (to administer the wide range of projects within the Skills Planning Department, e.g. ABET, Interns, Bursaries, Workplace Experience and Apprenticeships) and a post for a Personal Assistant (being mainly responsible for the logistics of the 11 standing committees within the Department and related tasks).

CUSTOMER SATISFACTON SURVEY 2008

Your views are important, and will help us to understand your needs and enable us to provide you with quality service at all times. Questionnaires will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
Kindly give us a few minutes of your time to complete the questionnaire. If you have not completed the survey kindly Click here to participate in the Customer Satisfaction Survey. Closing date for the survey will be 30 June 2008.

CONTACT:

Tel:  (012) 325 1655
Fax: (012) 325 1624
Email: info@agriseta.co.za
Website: http://www.agriseta.co.za