The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) in South Africa has partnered with merSETA and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) to introduce formal occupational skills programmes for new energy vehicles (NEVs). This move aims to safeguard the workforce and raise industry standards by replacing fragmented and informal learning with nationally recognised qualifications. The RMI emphasised the need for this shift as hybrid and electric vehicles enter the South African vehicle fleet and prepare to move beyond manufacturer warranties into independent workshops.
The increasing presence of hybrid and electric vehicles in South Africa's vehicle fleet has created an urgent need for technicians trained to work safely on high-voltage electrical systems, battery packs, and complex electronic and software architectures. Pieter Niemand, national director of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (Miwa), an RMI association representing 2,700 independent workshops, noted that electromobility is already present in the aftermarket. The RMI highlighted that South Africa's automotive aftermarket supports over 270,000 jobs across approximately 23,000 businesses, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises.
If independent workshops fail to develop the necessary skills, they risk losing business as the vehicle fleet changes. Niemand stressed that for independent workshops, this is ultimately about remaining relevant and competitive. Customers will continue to need trusted businesses to maintain and repair their vehicles, but those businesses must have the skills to work on the technologies increasingly coming into the market. The RMI's new occupational programmes introduce a formal training pathway to address this need.
The three new occupational programmes focus on safety, maintenance, diagnostics, and repairs. The first programme is aimed at workshop assistants, while the other two are intended for qualified technicians. The RMI stated that these programmes will provide a standardised national benchmark while aligning with international best practice. Partnerships with the German Chamber of Crafts Erfurt and GIZ are being used to benchmark South African training against more advanced electromobility markets.
The training combines theoretical instruction with practical workplace experience, allowing new entrants to gain recognised qualifications while giving experienced technicians a structured route to upgrade their skills. This approach ensures that technicians cannot simply rely on their knowledge and experience with conventional vehicles. They need to understand high-voltage systems, battery technology, and electronic diagnostics, and know how to work safely around them.
The need for new skills extends beyond workshop technicians to service advisers, parts salespeople, and other frontline employees. These individuals will require sufficient knowledge of hybrid and electric drivetrains to advise customers, source parts, and explain repair and safety requirements. Miwa will promote the new training pathways at Automechanika Johannesburg in October, providing a platform for industry stakeholders to learn about the programmes.
The introduction of these formal training programmes is a crucial step towards ensuring that South Africa's automotive aftermarket remains competitive and relevant in the face of changing vehicle technologies. By providing a structured and nationally recognised training pathway, the RMI aims to support the growth of the industry while safeguarding the workforce and promoting international best practices.
Key points
- The RMI has partnered with merSETA and QCTO to establish formal occupational skills programmes for new energy vehicles in South Africa.
- The programmes aim to address the urgent need for technicians trained to work safely on high-voltage electrical systems and complex electronic architectures.
- The training combines theoretical instruction with practical workplace experience, allowing new entrants to gain recognised qualifications while giving experienced technicians a structured route to upgrade their skills.
