Issue 68 | 12 December 2014 www.autolive.co.za GGA-RANKUWAA-RANKUWA AUTOMOTIVEAUTOMOTIVE INCUBATORINCUBATOR NNOWOW FACESFACES CATCHCATCH 2222 SITUATIONSITUATION The automotive incubator established by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) in Ga-Rankuwa, North West, in 2012 as part of its Technology Programme is now facing a Catch 22 situation in that it needs a constant fl ow of work to be viable. BY ROGER HOUGHTON However, to get the work – particularly body re- pair from the insurance industry – requires ac- creditation by bodies such as the Retail Motor Industry organisation (RMI) which it has not yet attained. Th e acting manager of this automotive hub, Leonard Tshabalala, says a possible light at the end of the tunnel could be the SA Auto Repairers and The Small Enterprise Development Agency’s Ga-Rankuwa automotive incubator Salvage Association (SAARSA) which had a fruit- was opened with much fanfare in 2012 but is now in a catch 22 situation needing ful meeting with senior government representa- a constant fl ow of work to grown. Seen at the opening ceremony (from left) were: tives and members of major insurance companies the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, the City Manager, Jason in Cape Town last weekend. Tshabalala, who at- Ngubeni, the local ward councillor Jabu Ramushu and the former executive manager tended the meeting, said his organisation could for the Seda Technology Programme, Ranjit Alumuttil. partner with SAARSA in the future. SAARSA was formed in 2004 to support venture he was charged with establishing a num- around 200 SMME’s. Manilal added that the small and medium enterprises in the automotive ber of automotive incubator hubs throughout Winterveldt facility is accredited by MERSETA body repair industry. It was established by a few SA on behalf of the government-funded Seda as a workplace training centre and complies with concerned panel beating entrepreneurs in the Technology Programme under the banner of the OEM’s standards. Western Cape in an attempt to “eradicate barriers Seda Automotive Technology Centre (SATeC). Meanwhile Tshabalala says he is working that prevent small business freely participating in Replying to questions from AutoLive about towards RMI accreditation and now has a quali- the mainstream economy”. Tshabalala’s claims that the Ga-Rankuwa facil- fi ed auto body repair artisan in his team and Tshabalala brought the plight of his automotive ity was in fact the fi rst automotive hub in SA, currently uses the services of an external ser- hub in the North West to the attention of AutoLive the CEO of the AIDC, Barlow Manilal, said that vice provider for mentoring technicians doing following the article earlier this year on the AIDC’s his organisation’s facility focussed solely on auto mechanical repairs. similar set up in Winterveldt. He said that while the body repairs and not mechanical repairs, while AIDC initiative was basically a Gauteng provincial it had the capacity to support 1 200 people and continued on page 2 Fortuner reinforces Vehicle connectivity Progress report Dakar Rally 2015 off-road capability is the buzzword on Bloodhound will be a tough at Rhino Park for the future record attempt challenge Page 5 Page 6 Page 10 Page 13 Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 2 Editor and General Manager continued from page 1 means of growing the number of par- He has been involved in small Roger Houghton ticipants in the programme as well as business development for much [email protected] He said SATeC off ered both on- improving turnover fi gures for the of his working life, starting with 082 371 9097 site and off -site training and mentor- incubated SMMEs. the Get Ahead Foundation in the ing and has 60 people involved with Successful applicants to partici- 1980’s, the North West Development the programme on its database. Th e pate in the programme are aff orded Corporation in the 1990’s and then Contributor / Road Test Editor facility already boasts R2.8-million the opportunity of using the equip- the Centre for Business Information Stuart Johnston worth of equipment. Th is includes a ment and facilities at the centre in and Support, which was a Section 21 [email protected] Celette spray booth and paint mix- Ga-Rankuwa while being mentored. company of the City of Tshwane. 083 450 9255 ing room as well as several electronic At present there are three people on- Tshabalala says that he is look- diagnostic testers, hoists for vehicles site involved with body repair and ing to the Mandela Bay Metro (Port and engines and other specialised three on mechanical repair, with each Elizabeth) as a possible site for the Advertising Sales equipment. It also has a trailer to col- of them employing and training 3–4 next SATeC incubation hub and lect and deliver vehicles for those in- other people. has already had fruitful discussions Kieran Rennie volved in the project. Technical training is undertaken with Volkswagen, while the Nelson [email protected] Th ose people in the incubation using the resources of the Automobile Mandela Metro has already approved 083 225 9609 programme also have the backend Association, while it is the intention the partnership between SATeC and support of the offi ce at the Ga- to use training courses off ered by the Metro. Address Rankuwa facility for fi nancial and Bosch in the future too. Another region which is show- administrative matters, with the Th e incubation period is three ing interest is Bloemfontein, while 237 Rigel Avenue Centre having opened credit facilities years and then there is an exit pro- the Acting Centre Manager has al- Waterkloof for replacement and service parts for cess where ongoing monitoring takes ready discussed a potential tie up Pretoria the use of the SMMEs. place. Besides the practical training the Vaal University of Technology’s Th is automotive hub in Ga- there is also assistance with theoreti- Science Park to establish a hub Rankuwa is a joint venture with, cal training to enable participants ul- there which will focus more on re- Website SEDA, the North West Development timately to do trade tests. search into subjects such as local Corporation the City of Tshwane and Although Leonard Tshabalala component development. www.autolive.co.za had received R4.5-million in fund- has a career in project management However, the main challenge © 2014 WCM Media CC ing over four years from the city. Th e he says he is also a petrolhead in that remains making the Ga-Rankuwa Acting Centre Manager is hopeful of his father was a motor mechanic and facility viable and thereby being being given the opportunity to re- he grew up in Vereeniging helping able to attract more participants to Production pair some of the city’s vehicles as a him repair vehicles at home. the programme. ■ Marketing Support Services +27 (0)12 346 2168 [email protected] Disclaimer While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the advice and information given to readers, neither the Editor, the Proprietors, nor the publishers BMW-trained automotive technician Thomas can accept any responsibility for Tshene uses a Bosch KT570 diagnostic tester any damages or injury which may Leonard Tshabalala, the Acting Centre Manager for fault-fi nding on a BMW at the Ga-Rankuwa arise therefrom. at the SATeC Automotive Hub in Ga-Rankuwa. incubation centre. Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 3 Powels has Strong Editor’s Note Things to Say About SA Motor Industry We are now into the heart of the Festive Season, which is also sometimes known as the David Powel, the outgoing president and CEO Silly Season. Th is is particu- of Volkswagen SA, who is moving the head up larly apt this year. VW’s operations in Brazil, has been straight- Who would have thought talking in media interviews before his departure. we would have rolling black- Talking to Roy Cokayne, of Business outs in mid-summer when Report, he said the labour disruptions dur- many companies in the busi- ing negotiations over the current agreement in David Powels. ness world are closed or clos- the automotive industry were the “hardest and ing? But this is what we are darkest days” in his 8-year period as MD of the Uitenhage-based company. dealing with and its impact “We have to change the attitude and mindset of both parties to fi nd a less destructive on most aspects of business is disastrous. and disruptive way of settling disputes. It starts with reasonable demands and maturity.” On Th en, in the motor industry we see Mercedes-Benz SA the positive side, Powels indicated he would like to be remembered for driving VWSA’s local once again causing a storm by refusing to provide detailed content and people improvement. Th e ocmaony also became a clear leader in passenger vehicle sales fi gures to the dti, which in turn has them processed by sales during his tenure. Lightstone Auto for distribution. Th ere is no concrete reason given by MBSA this time We have to change the attitude and mindset of both parties around, only the following “corporate speak” from Lynette to fi nd a less destructive and disruptive way of settling Skriker, the Media Specialist in the Group Corporate Aff airs disputes. It starts with reasonable demands and maturity. Division, saying: “In accordance with internal policies which are uniform to all Daimler group global operations, He also warned the government about alarming foreign investors by making too many changes Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) is only providing ag- to the Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP).