Formal logistics training launched

The Chartered Institute of Logistics

and Transport: South Africa (Ciltsa)

is set to introduce formal training for

the transport and logistics industry in

South Africa and has appointed its first

accredited training service provider.

Speaking at a Ciltsa networking

breakfast in Johannesburg last week,

Vaughan Zoutendyk, head of sales for

Commerce Edge, announced that his

company had teamed

up with Ciltsa and

the Da Vinci Institute

to offer a 12-month

training certificate in

logistics and transport.

He said that the first

course would start

in October, with 15

students participating.

Zoutendyk pointed

out that this course

could serve as an entry

into the three-year B Com logistics

management degree.

According to Ciltsa spokesperson

Charles Dey, the institute is working

with the relevant government

representative agencies, including the

Transport Education and Training

Authority (Teta), to register the course

as a learnership.

Head of Commerce Edge Academy,

Ronald Mlalazi, told FTW that

the 12-month certficate would

be nationally and internationally

recognised by the global and local CILT

organisations.

“This kind of recognition helps

benchmark global industry standards

and align them with local or regional

business processes

and goes a long

way towards

professionalising the

industry and raising

the level of knowledge

and skills in South

Africa,” he said.

He agreed that

there were skills gaps

across the board in

the transport and

logistics industry as

many new entrants into the industry

ended up in the industry by default.

“They are often placed in positions

without the requisite knowledge or

skills and are not adequately trained in

their jobs,” said Mlalazi.

INSERT & CAPTION

The industry needs

a strong set of best

practice benchmarks.

– Robert Mlalazi