From Fundi Training Centre to Seifsa Training Centre

“As Seifsa turns a new page into the new era, so has its focus.

“As part of the new strategy to enhance its services to its client base, so follows the strategic repositioning of the now Seifsa Training Centre,” said Desmond Uithaler, Seifsa operations manager.

“As part of the vision going forward, Seifsa will seek to actively contribute to the decade of the artisan as contemplated by Minister Blade Nzimande.”

He added that the centre remains committed to quality training and inspiring excellence in young learners.

The training centre was established in 1983 by Seifsa and was known as the Benoni Training College.

In 2004 the training centre started outsourcing to its training partner Gijima, and renamed the centre Fundi Training Centre.

“Fundi Training Centre has been a well-known brand name in many training circles.

“The training centre truly lived up to its name, but the re-branding will emphasise Seifsa’s ownership of the centre as an important resource to its clients,” said Uithaler.

“On average, the centre trains 500 apprentices annually on its full time courses, while it can trade test about 600 candidates between the Merseta and CHIETA,” he said.

He added that, since 2004, it has sponsored and trained more than 80 apprentices, 70 per cent of whom have been placed in apprenticeship programmes with its client companies.

A number of these apprentices are now qualified artisans.

The centre actively participates in the rewriting of both training modules and trade test with NAMB and the QCTO.

Training offered at the centre includes: · Learnerships

· Apprenticeships · Skills Programmes

· Recognition of Prior Learning

· Trade Proficiency Assessment services

· Trade testing for Section 13 and Section 28 trainees

· Section 28 assessments

· Artisan Training and Recognition Agreement for the Metal Industry · Continuous up-skilling of artisans