Jo’burg office pumps up enrolments

ALAN PEAT
THIS HAS been an eventful year for Skills Development Specialists (SDS), according to MD Henri Fisher.
“Added to our Durban head office - established in 1997 - we launched our Johannesburg branch in January this year,” she told FTW.
“Provisional turnover figures for the first half of the year indicate a considerable increase in student enrolment figures for this region.”
Driving the training at the branch are Fisher; Shane Hamilton (clearing and forwarding operations) and David Longstaff (venue co-ordinator).
To meet the demand for training in Johannesburg, SDS has had to introduce a three-day, full-time methodology for the South African customs clearing Part I course.
“This,” Fisher told FTW, “is in addition to the part-time methods used in the past.”
This popular course runs the first week of every month - Tuesday through to Thursday.
“So far, the highlight of 2004 has been our accreditation for thirteen unit standards leading towards the national certificates in customs clearing and forwarding NQF 3 and 4.
“In effect this means that the entire subject matter of the SA customs clearing Part II course is accredited, and candidates qualify for credits towards the national certificates once the assessment process is complete.”
The benefit for approved clients, she added, is that, as a result of the SDS accreditation, they may now claim back R130 per credit from the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) as reimbursement for the initial course fee.