{"id":756071,"date":"2024-02-29T10:05:55","date_gmt":"2024-02-29T08:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=756071"},"modified":"2024-02-29T10:06:47","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T08:06:47","slug":"you-can-now-get-an-official-qualification-in-fixing-potholes-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/756071\/you-can-now-get-an-official-qualification-in-fixing-potholes-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"You can now get an official qualification in fixing potholes in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

South Africans can now qualify to fix potholes through the Discovery Pothole Patrol Academy, which launched on 1 February 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discovery announced the official launch of the academy on Wednesday (28 February) in partnership with Avis Southern Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“In its first official year, which kicked off on 1 February 2024, the Academy is providing classroom and on-the-job training to 24 learners through EduWize, an accredited leadership and skills development provider,” said Discovery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It added that the official launch follows a successful pilot in 2023, which included 18 learners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Discovery, the academy is now accredited by the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) to offer a 12-month practical skills training programme providing an NQF Level 3 qualification. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Participants will obtain a National Certificate in Roadworks Construction upon completion,” the insurer said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to sustainably uplift the academy\u2019s learners so that once they complete the 12-month programme, they know how to repair potholes and what to do in a road construction environment and are equipped to start their own business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It is exciting to see that one of the people who was trained under the Discovery Pothole Patrol has started his own business in KwaZulu-Natal and created employment opportunities through his company,\u201d said Kgodiso Mokonyane, Head of Strategy and Value Added & Ancillary Products at Discovery Insure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not only about getting an NQF-level qualification \u2013 it\u2019s about making a real and lasting impact in our society,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discovery Insure and Avis believe that the benefits of the Discovery Pothole Patrol Academy will extend beyond graduation, aligning with both companies’ Corporate Social Investment initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the Pothole Patrol’s launch in 2021, the initiative has repaired over 200,000 potholes on major Johannesburg roads. Initially, the project aimed to repair 1,000 potholes a week, but it has exceeded this target by 25%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This initiative was launched in the face of South Africa’s crumbling roads and the lack of resources to fix failures like potholes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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According to the Department of Transport, roughly 44,949 potholes were reported per the National System as of 7 November 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gauteng tops the table with 20,220 potholes reported, followed by Free State with 7,067, whereas Northern Cape reported 464 at the bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, little has been done to address these reported potholes, as transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga noted municipal and department officials aren\u2019t trained to use the new system. This is over a year after the app was launched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe biggest challenge is that most pothole complaints cannot be correctly and automatically allocated using the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is on this basis that SANRAL is currently training officials from Provinces and Municipalities on the usage of the App under the theme \u201cTrain the Trainer,\u201d said Chikunga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This app was supposed to help fix potholes in South Africa – but officials are still learning how to use it<\/a><\/blockquote>