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SATMC Gets Backing From merSETA

Sep 09, 2015 SATMC, Tyres, Training, RoadSafety, merSETA


The Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA) has given the South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC) its financial backing, allowing traffic officers and SARS Customs officials to receive tyre safety training.


SATMC explains that the training is aimed at highlighting the importance of tyre safety, “especially the early detection of damaged tyres liable to cause devastating, even fatal accidents. The law enforcement officers who patrol national roads daily will now be much better equipped to educate road users on tyre safety and maintenance, ultimately yielding safer roads for all South Africans.”


Once the officials have completed this training they will receive accreditation towards a formal, nationally-recognised qualification.


As Nobuzwe Mangcu, SATMC Managing Executive explains: “We focus on enhancing the knowledge of Traffic and Customs officials, ensuring a good understanding of current legal requirements when checking tyres on vehicles. The SATMC training is both classroom-based and experiential, enabling officials to undertake a technical examination of tyres with guidance from tyre experts. The value of this knowledge is understated in their examination of un-roadworthy vehicles that pose a huge safety risk. The training ultimately contributes to reducing road accident rates on our roads.”


“MerSETA’s role in facilitating the development of skills in the tyre sector in South Africa is critical,” adds Mangcu. “Traffic officers can be a credible source of advice for motorists. Tyres have developed tremendously in technological terms and traffic officers need to keep up with recent technological advancements of tyres, to ensure that their tyre knowledge is at the cutting edge.”

 

SATMC collectively hosted and trained 129 Municipal and Provincial traffic officials, South African Police Services (SAPS) officials and weighbridge inspectors at Mooi Plaza, Tugela Plaza, Harrismith and Heidelberg in April this year.


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