Transport Sector: Keeping The Wheels Turning

An efficient, well-run transport sector is the-back-bone of any economy. It’s no secret that South Africa has seen a notable decline in standards across its transport infrastructure, including rail, road and ports. This has increased the cost of moving goods and threatened the country’s status as the gateway to Southern Africa.

All this means is that transport-related skills are critical to the economy, and job-seekers possessing them should find gainful employment in a sector many hope will be bolstered by several mooted public-private partnerships.

Transport Education Training Authority

The Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) is the Sector Education and Training Authority responsible for assisting in training and skills development focused on the transport sector. TETA’s operational areas include aerospace, freight handling, maritime, rail, road freight, road passenger, taxi and the forwarding and clearing transport industry subsectors.

The organisation offers a bursary for unemployed learners presently in or having completed Grade 12, registered university or college students requiring funding support, aviation students with valid private or commercial pilot licences and commercial divers who have passed their senior certificate. The bursary covers tuition, accommodation, transport (where applicable), books and meals.The support granted through the TETA  bursaryvaries depending on industry trends,  but typically includes (though is not limited to) the following:

• Aeronautical Engineering (B Degree/BSc)
• Accounting (BCom)
• Airline Transport Pilot Licence
• Business Administration (National Diploma/
  B-Tech/Advanced Diploma/B Degree)
• Commercial Divers (Class II/III/IV)
• Commercial Pilot Licence
• Data Sciences (BSc)
• Financial Management (National Diploma/
• B-Tech/Advanced Diploma/B Degree)
• Health and Safety Management (National
  Diploma/B-Tech/Advanced Diploma/B Degree)
• Logistics Management (National Diploma/
  B-Tech/Advanced Diploma/B Degree)
• Marine Engineering (B Degree)
• Maritime Law (B Degree)
• Maritime/Nautical Studies (National Diploma/
  B-Tech/Advanced Diploma/B Degree)
• Mechanical Engineering (National Diploma/
• B Degree/N4–N6)
• Operations Management (National Diploma/
  B-Tech/Advanced Diploma/B Degree/
• Honours Degree)
• Private Pilot Licence
• Risk Management (National Diploma/B-Tech/
• Advanced Diploma/B Degree)
• Road Transport Management (National
  Diploma/B-Tech/Advanced Diploma/B Degree)
• Supply Chain Management (including
• Warehouse, Storage and Distribution) (National
  Diploma/B-Tech/Advanced Diploma/B Degree)
• Transport Economics (National Diploma/
  B-Tech/Advanced Diploma/B degree)
• Transportation Management (National Diploma/
• B-Tech/Advanced Diploma/B degree).
  Visit the TETA website for more information.

UNISA and the Department of Transport

Through Unisa, the Department of Transport offers bursaries to South Africans 35 years old and below to study at the institution in the following fields:

Undergraduate

• Civil Engineering (Advanced Diploma)
• Civil Engineering (Diploma)
• Logistics (BCom)
• Transportation Economics (BCom).

Postgraduate

• Logistics (Honours)
• Transport Economics (Honours).

The bursaries cover tuition fees and prescribed textbooks, but not failed or repeated modules. Applicants must be Unisa undergraduate or postgraduate (NQF level 6 to 8) students with an average score of at least 50 per cent from their prior academic year. Returning beneficiaries are required to have passed half or more of their previously funded modules.