⎪ Hydraulic, pneumatic and automation solutions ⎪
Practical skills for real opportunities in Africa’s automotive sector Maureen Phiri, Director at Oxyon People Solutions, highlights the role of skills development in transforming and automating the local automotive industry. S outh Africa’s automotive sector is entering a time of rapid trans- formation as electric vehicles, hydrogen technologies and and stronger guidance from parents and teachers, the country will continue to see high dropout rates in these subjects and fewer young people prepared for the qualifications demanded by the evolving vehicle production landscape.
automated manufacturing begin reshap- ing how vehicles are built, serviced and maintained. The skills required in this en- vironment combine engineering, software, diagnostics and human creativity, and they will determine whether the country keeps pace with global change. Preparing young people for this fu- ture cannot start at matric level; it must begin in primary school through early exposure to mechanical systems and technology-driven problem-solving. It then needs to continue in high school through strong maths and science path- ways, and to extend into Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and industry-linked training that translates early interest into practical capability. With youth unemployment high and many workers trained for roles that no longer align with industry needs, South Africa must build clear pathways that guide learners from their early schooling into technical and engineering careers, shaping the automotive sector’s future. Automation, diagnostics software and renewable energy technologies are al- ready redefining daily work in automotive plants and workshops. Some manufactur- ers continue building vehicles manually, but many of the sector’s global leaders are shifting toward automated factories where machines handle assembly tasks and technicians focus on monitoring systems, interpreting data, and solving advanced engineering problems. As connected vehicles become the norm, the industry will also require more software developers, data analysts, cyber- security specialists and coding expertise alongside engineers and artisans. However, technical skill alone will not be enough. Creativity, leadership and hu- man judgement will remain central, even as technology drives efficiency. South Africa risks falling behind if learners opt out of science and maths before they un- derstand the opportunities these subjects unlock. Without early encouragement
Children already navigate technology- rich environments, and this familiar- ity creates an opportunity to introduce mechanical thinking long before subject choices begin. Simple robotics, basic me- chanics and systems thinking in primary school will help learners make sense of how things move and operate. When these ideas are nurtured early, it becomes easier to build technical competence later; upskilling is far less daunting for someone who already understands the basic prin- ciples behind technology and mechanical systems. This early grounding also smooths the transition into high school, where subject choices become pivotal. Grade 10 is a turning point in South African education, when learners decide whether to pursue maths, science and technical subjects, which are the disciplines required for en- gineering and automotive careers. Schools and parents play an essential role here, guiding learners towards subjects that align with future opportunities rather than steering them away from perceived difficulty. At the same time, more visible engagement from TVET colleges and technical training providers can help shift perceptions that universities are the only credible study route. TVET colleges are essential to build- ing a workforce capable of supporting the production of electric, hydrogen and hybrid vehicles, yet universities still overshadow them. These colleges offer practical, industry-aligned training that can place young people directly into en- gineering, manufacturing and automotive environments. As South Africa prepares for new automotive manufacturers to set up local operations and for production to shift toward renewable energy technolo- gies, colleges will become even more criti- cal in equipping learners with the skills they will need for automated factories, advanced diagnostics and emerging fuel systems.
However, the sector also faces a sig- nificant challenge: skills mismatches, with workers trained only in traditional mechanical methods at risk of being left behind as factories modernise. The solu- tion lies in coordinated action between government, industry and educational institutions. Partnerships are already be- ing discussed to align training programmes with the demands of modern automotive production, expand apprenticeships and strengthen learnerships. This includes the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme, which is de- signed to create work experience oppor- tunities for young people who are unem- ployed and have limited or no prior job exposure. However, the most important shift is ensuring that preparation begins early and continues through each stage of education, so learners move steadily towards the technical careers that the future automotive sector will depend on. South Africa has the ideas, the ambition and a generation already fluent in tech- nology. What is needed now is a unified education-to-industry pipeline that nur- tures early mechanical curiosity, strength- ens science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pathways, elevates TVET colleges, and ensures that training aligns with the demands of new-energy vehicle production. By building these foundations from the earliest years of schooling, South Africa can develop a workforce with the practi- cal and technical skills needed to create, support and advance the vehicles and technologies that will shape the country’s automotive future. https://oxyon.co.za/
January-February 2025 • MechChem Africa ¦ 25
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