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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
JUNE
2017
Despite this, South Africa still struggles from a skills deficit with
current estimates suggesting that less than half of school starters
will go on to complete Matric. To address this shortfall proactive
businesses are implementing adult education programmes to bridge
the skills gap from within.
One company that is setting the benchmark for employee
development is Kwikspace Modular Buildings (Kwikspace). As part
of their adult learning programme, Kwikspace offers employees who
have not completed their basic education the opportunity to enrol in
an Adult Education and Training (AET) Programme which provides
training from National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level one to
level four, which is the equivalent of a grade 4 to 10 level
of schooling.
Comments Cynthia Kubheka, human resource executive at
Kwikspace: “Through our staff training programmes, we endeavour
to provide our employees with the tools they need to reach their full
potential. We have been blessed with a workforce that is eager to
learn and this year we are proud to have 34 employees enrolled in our
adult learning programme.”
However, completing one’s basic education is hardly the end of
the road and the recent spate of university protests have brought the
economic barriers to obtaining a higher education sharply into focus.
Therefore, Kwikspace employees who have achieved a NQF level four
or passed Matric are eligible to further supplement their education by
taking part in a series of learnerships including project management,
business administration and business management.
Adds Kubheka: “There is a high level of poverty amoung young
people in South Africa, making it difficult for some to pursue
secondary or tertiary education or training. Kwikspace’s extended
adult learning programme is an attempt to remove some of the
barriers to obtaining a higher education and provide real opportunities
for transformation.
Despite high levels of unemployment in the country, employers
still often struggle to fill jobs. According to the 2016 Manpower South
Africa Talent Shortage Survey, 34% of local employers are having
difficulty filling jobs, citing lack of experience, lack of hard skills and
a lack of available applicants as some of the reasons. This has led to
local employers, such as Kwikspace, looking for solutions within their
organisations and 86% claim to be training and developing existing
employees in order to fill open positions.
Concludes Kubheka: “The benefit of developing employees is
two-fold. Not only
do you have a more
skilled workforce
but also a more
engaged workforce,
motivated by
the prospect of
upliftment and
opportunities for
success.”
Franki is renowned for its geotechnical solutions using an
array of different piles including driven tube piles, precast
piles, auger piles, full displacement screwpiles, rotapiles,
micropiles, the famous Frankipile (driven cast-in-situ pile)
and many more. It is also well-known for its soil improvement
systems including dynamic compaction, deep soil mixing,
accelerated consolidation and of course Jet Grouting as
discussed above.
Franki’s skills in trenchless technology are just as strong
and for more than 30 years it has successfully provided pipe-
jacking and other trenchless technologies – augering, thrust
boring and large diameter case boring – to a wide range of
clients in Southern Africa.
Trenchless technology is a ‘family’ of methods, materials,
and equipment capable of being used for the installation,
replacement or rehabilitation of existing underground
infrastructure with minimal disruption to surface traffic,
business, and other activities. It is, therefore, often the most
cost-effective solution.
Pipejacking, an integral part of this ‘family’, is a technique
for installing underground pipelines, ducts and culverts.
Powerful hydraulic jacks are used to push specially designed
pipes through the ground behind a shield at the same time
as excavation is taking place within the shield. The method
provides a flexible, structural, watertight, finished pipeline as
the tunnel is excavated.
By being part of the Keller Group, Franki’s leadership in the
Geotechnical space in Southern Africa has been significantly
enhanced. Keller is the world’s largest independent
geotechnical engineering contractor, giving Franki significant
advantages including access to a wide range of innovative
technologies - including trenchless technologies – and in
the areas of finance for future growth, new state-of the-art
machinery and, of course, a wealth of geotechnical intellectual
property and experience.
Jet grouting rig installing
raker columns beneath N1.
Addressing South Africa’s
skills deficit
The South African bill of rights states that, “Everyone has
the right to a basic education, including an adult basic
education.” Education is essential for the transformation
of South Africa’s society, providing individuals with the
knowledge required to bring about social, economic and
political change.