Being a part of Transnet National Ports Authority’s Operation Phakisa technical training course for 23-year-old Vuyani Chiya is more than an opportunity to further his education – it is the means through which he hopes to change both his own life and that of his mother.

The 23-year-old from Umlazi is one of 18 candidates from the South Durban Basin selected for Operation Phakisa technical training, which began on Monday, April 11. The training forms part of Transnet’s Market Demand Strategy (MDS) to train artisans for the shipbuilding and repair industry and is in line with the South African government’s Operation Phakisa initiative which aims to unlock the potential of the Oceans Economy.

TNPA’s Port of Durban has adopted 15 schools in the South Durban Basin and has various programmes in place with them to build its own capabilities by developing mission critical skills within its communities from the ground up.

The Operation Phakisa technical training programme consists of two, three-year courses – Millwright and Coded Welding – run by the Transnet School of Engineering. The third course on spray painting also forms part of the Operation Phakisa technical training offering which will take place later in the year.

Chiya, who has been living in South Durban while he studied towards his N4 and N5 certificate at Umlazi Computech, is now working towards qualifying as a Millwright.

Capacity-building Manager for the KZN region at the Transnet School of Engineering, Thandukwazi Magcaba, said the skills training programme was a great opportunity, not only for the students but for the country as a whole.

“Programmes such as these are incredibly important. I would say any country without properly trained artisans is lagging behind, because, in some sectors, we do not have our own artisans and these individuals are imported. However, with programmes such as this in place, we can cut down on a number of imports, harness job creation and move our unique projects forward.”

Each course is made up of three phases. In the first, the apprentices are taught basic tooling, in the second they familiarise themselves with the equipment they will be working with/on. In the final phase, the students will work practically and be tested accordingly.

The success of the training programmes offered by the school, says Magcaba, is indicated by the increase in entrant numbers year on year

“When I first started here five years ago, we had 290 students. Now we have 539 – nearly double that number. It is very rewarding to know that we are helping to bring about positive change.”

Of the 18 new recruits for the Operation Phakisa Technical Training, Angella Ndimande, is one of the four only females who made the cut this year. Like Chiya, Ndimande is pursuing a career as a Millwright Engineer. Among her reasons for taking on the challenge were to illustrate to her 16-year-old daughter Nokulunga, the importance of furthering her studies.

“I have always wanted to be a Millwright for as long as I can remember. Being here today makes me so happy, I can’t explain. But more than anything I did this for Nokulunga. To show her you are never too old to be educated.”