Manufacturing skills capacity in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa’s second-largest provincial manufacturing industry, is set to receive a major boost. The Production Technologies Association of South Africa (PtSA) has officially opened its new multi-million rand Centre of Excellence in Marianhill, Pinetown.
The ultra-modern, 1600 square meter Centre was inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr. Andrew Grant Whitfield. This initiative forms part of the INTSIMBI Future Production Technologies Initiative (FPTI), a multi-stakeholder project launched by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and PtSA to revive South Africa’s struggling tooling industry.
PtSA, an industry membership-based organisation, works to empower South African toolmaking companies, ensuring a sustainable future for the local manufacturing sector.
Deputy Minister Whitfield Highlights the Centre's Impact
During his opening address, Deputy Minister Whitfield expressed optimism about the potential of the PtSA’s INTSIMBI FPTI programme. He described the initiative as a central hub for manufacturing, skills development, clusters, and enterprise growth in South Africa and across the continent.
He emphasized the importance of addressing tooling sector challenges to reverse deindustrialization and revitalise South Africa’s manufacturing economy.
“As a collective, government, industry and PtSA need to improve South Africa’s skills development and training models if the country wants to be in the new technological frontiers and deepen our manufacturing capabilities. Addressing the challenges requires strategic investments in technology, skills development, and policy interventions aimed at fostering a competitive and sustainable tooling industry and promoting domestic manufacturing. Government will continue to advocate for increased local content, particularly in the automotive sector, as it is one of the largest consumers of tooling. This strategic focus is essential for creating a robust market that can drive the recovery and the growth of the tool, die and mould sector in South Africa.”
Significant Investment in Manufacturing Skills Development
To date, the government (the dtic, the Department of Higher Education and Training, and Eastern Cape and Gauteng Provincial Governments) has invested over R700 million into the INTSIMBI FPTI programme. This funding aims to enhance human resources and infrastructure for delivering internationally and locally recognised trade and part-qualifications and toolmaking capacity that are in line with industry needs. The production industries have contributed more than R250 million towards the INTSIMBI FPTI.
State-of-the-Art Training for the Next Generation of Toolmakers
The new PtSA Centre of Excellence is fully equipped and accredited to train toolmakers according to South African SAQA standards and internationally recognised certifications from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS).
The training includes:
- Accredited occupational certifications.
- Skills development for the 4th Industrial Revolution, bridging the digital and physical manufacturing divide.
The Centre also houses a trade test centre, which allows PtSA to train and qualify more students in an environment that mirrors real-world industry expectations. Additionally, it offers a venue for customized training for the manufacturing sector and facilitates stakeholder collaboration.
KwaZulu-Natal: A Manufacturing Hub
KwaZulu-Natal accounts for nearly a third of South Africa’s manufactured exports and contributes to 20% of employment in the province. The new Centre is expected to bolster the local workforce and enhance the province’s role as a key manufacturing hub in South Africa.
