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Engines donated to empower skills development

TURBOCHARGING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
The Ford Struandale Engine Plant donated four turbo-diesel engines to propel skills development and training at the Coega Skills and Training Development Centre

TURBOCHARGING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT The Ford Struandale Engine Plant donated four turbo-diesel engines to propel skills development and training at the Coega Skills and Training Development Centre

25th July 2014

  

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Vehicle manufacturer Ford donated four diesel engines to State-owned entity, the Coega Skills and Training Development Centre, to enhance skills development in the automotive industry.

The engines were donated from the Ford Struandale Engine Plant (SEP), in Port Elizabeth, and consist of two 3.2 ℓ five-cylinder Duratorq turbo-diesel common-rail fuel-injection (TDCi) variants, and two 3.2 ℓ four-cylinder Duratorq TDCi variants.

SEP plant manager Satya Banda states that Coega’s training services aim to tackle skills development and job creation in the Coega industrial development zone (CIDZ), the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan and the Eastern Cape as a whole.

“As one of the largest manufacturers in the province, job creation and skills development is one of our biggest goals,” he says.

CIDZ offers skills development through training programmes that focus on assessor, moderator, coaching and facilitation training; basic construction skills; safety and supervisory training; and apprenticeship implementation in the construction and mechanical trades.

“The SEP recently celebrated the milestone of manufacturing three-million engines, and over the last 50 years, SEP has produced some great products, while investing in our local team’s talent, expertise and skills. “We want to do our part and extend this to other enterprises such as Coega’s training services,” says Banda.

The SEP employs about 600 people and received a major boost in 2010 when it was awarded the export contract to machine components and assemble high-tech Duratorq TDCi engines for the new Ford Ranger. Over R3.4-billion was invested in the SEP and the Silverton assembly plant in Pretoria, which produces the new Ford Ranger for the South African market and for export to over 148 markets around the world.

Investing in Skills Development
Coega sources funding for its training programmes through the Department of Labour, the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa, applicable sector education and training authorities and the private sector.

“The Coega Skills and Training Development Centre is deeply grateful to Ford for their generous and relevant investment in the skills development of our labour market,” says Coega Development Corporation marketing and communication manager Dr Ayanda Vilakazi.

“The donation of these engines will undoubtedly support technical and vocational skills development of emerging talent. This, in turn, will have many positive spin-offs on employment and poverty eradication, which support a wider set of critically strategic socioeconomic goals.

“Coega will continue to provide training on critical skills needed by the market. “As a result, it is vital for the private and public sectors to continue working closely, cooperatively and persistently to address and improve skills development in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan and the Eastern Cape at large. This will ensure that labour in the automotive manufacturing value chain remains productive and globally competitive,” Vilakazi concludes.

Edited by Megan van Wyngaardt
Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

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