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RMI and SAPRA congratulate Thulani Tshefuta on his appointment as WR SETA Chairperson

Jan 19, 2026 RMI, SAPRA, Thulani Tshefuta, WR SETA Chairperson


RMI and SAPRA congratulate Thulani Tshefuta on his appointment as WR SETA Chairperson

 

The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), together with its constituent trade association, the South African Petroleum Retailers’ Association (SAPRA), congratulates Mr Thulani Tshefuta on his appointment as Chairperson of the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (WR SETA) Board.

 

RMI and SAPRA extend their best wishes to Mr Tshefuta and the newly appointed WR SETA Accounting Authority and look forward to constructive engagement with WR SETA leadership, including CEO, Mr Tom Mkwanazi, and the broader WR SETA team. SAPRA represents more than 700 members within the WR SETA ambit as at 31 December 2025, while the total active employer membership of the RMI across all constituent associations stood at 9 220 at the same date. Both organisations are committed to supporting practical skills development, quality workplace learning and clear pathways into employment, particularly within the petroleum and convenience retail sectors.

 

Commenting on the appointment, RMI CEO Ipeleng Mabusela said skills development delivers the strongest outcomes when industry and training authorities remain aligned and focused on practical implementation. “The petroleum retail and convenience retail space is changing fast. Operational, regulatory and technology shifts mean continuous upskilling is now part of doing business, and we look forward to deeper collaboration with the WR SETA team on practical initiatives that match employer needs on the ground,” he says. 

 

Mabusela says RMI looks forward to continued collaboration with WR SETA leadership to strengthen learning quality and improve workplace readiness across the sector.

SAPRA National Executive Chairperson, Henry van der Merwe, said the association remains focused on equipping retailers with practical, accessible guidance that supports compliance, operational excellence and skills development.

 

Looking ahead, RMI and SAPRA have reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with the WR SETA on initiatives that reflect the realities of the petroleum retail environment and respond to rapid operational, regulatory and technological change. A key area of opportunity remains structured workplace learning, where stronger alignment between TVET programmes and real workplace roles can deliver tangible benefits for both learners and employers.

 

Van der Merwe says with around 4 000 petroleum retailers operating in South Africa, if even 25% of sites participate, about 1 000 TVET learners could gain meaningful workplace exposure at petroleum dealer sites, applying their learning in roles aligned to business administration, occupational health and safety, accounting and finance, and business and site operations management. “We believe that well-designed, phased workplace exposure can play a meaningful role in building a sustainable talent pipeline, strengthening compliance capability and expanding long-term employment opportunities within the sector, concludes van der Merwe.

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