20-year old Ceajay Bosman, a 2nd year automotive motor mechanic apprentice from the Port Elizabeth TVET College, has walked away with Gold in the automotive motor mechanic sector, at WorldSkills Africa in Namibia.
The competition which was held from 28 March – 2 April 2022 saw apprentices from nine countries battling it out, in 16 different skills categories.
Ceajay, who is currently doing his Occupational Certificate: Automotive Motor Mechanic at the Iyhaiya Campus, was accompanied to Namibia by Gerhard Pretorius, one of the Centre of Specialisation (CoS) Facilitators currently being trained by the German Chamber of Crafts (HWK). The partnership between Handwerkskammer (HWK) Erfurt Germany and nine TVET colleges in the Eastern Cape Region has made incredible inroads over the last 12 months in uplifting teaching training skills with the support of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), a much valued partner in the venture.
Pretorius says he could not be prouder of Ceajay walking away with gold. Four countries participated in this specific category over the four days of the competition. The apprentices had to perform five different tasks including demonstrating their skills with Engine Management, Brake Repairs, Body and Electrical work and a full Engine Overhaul. Independent country experts from each of the participating countries were on hand to judge the competition.
‘For Ceajay who is only a second year, this is an outstanding achievement. He did not have any special training to compete which is testimony to the high quality of the training provided at our Centre of Specialisation,” says Pretorius. RMI’s Training Manager, Louis van Huyssteen agrees saying, “Access to international trends, through the German Craft Chamber, is invaluable for apprentices, particularly in an environment where skills are valued and provide businesses with a competitive advantage. The more teachers we can train the more apprentices we can help pull through the system and this bodes well for the future of our sector.”
The automotive motor mechanic trade is one of 13 trades of the national Department of Higher Education (DHET) Centre of Specialisation programme. Ceajay is one of two apprentices who will compete this year. Third year apprentice, Ernest Beneke, will compete in September in the South African National competition for inclusion in Team SA for the 46th WorldSkills competition taking place in Shanghai in October this year. “Now that Ceajay has brought home the African trophy, we have high hopes Ernst will be able to win internationally for SA,” concludes Pretorius.
PHOTO CAPTION: SA walks off with Gold at WorldSkills Africa. Pictured here from left are Sibelo Buthelezi, Chief Director Special Projects Unit for Dep of Higher Education, winning apprentice Ceajay Bosman and Gerhard Pretorius, Iyhaiya Campus Facilitator who accompanied Ceajay to Namibia.
