The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) and the German Chamber of Crafts Erfurt (HWK) announced the start of a new three-year structured TVET–HWK partnership project focused on skills development for e-mobility, at the RMI offices in Midrand yesterday, Tuesday 24 February 2026.
Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, implemented by Sequa and managed by HWK, the project will run until the end of 2028 with the aim of strengthening South Africa’s readiness for the transition to electric and hybrid vehicle technologies.
The launch event brought together key South African authorities and stakeholders, including the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), merSETA, and three participating TVET colleges namely College of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth TVET College and Tshwane South TVET College.
Addressing delegates at the launch, HWK Erfurt CEO, Mr Thomas Malcherek, described 2026 as a milestone year in the partnership between HWK Erfurt and the RMI.
“It has been almost ten years since HWK initiated its first educational project in South Africa. Since then, the RMI has stood by our side. We are grateful for the continuous trust and friendship,” he said.
HWK Erfurt represents approximately 14 000 member companies in the German Federal State of Thuringia and carries a formal educational mandate for the skilled trades in Germany, including responsibility for training, continuing education and journeyman examinations. E-mobility has been embedded in its curriculum since 2015, supported by dedicated training vehicles and structured E-mobility programmes.
“Our project focus today lies in the field of e-mobility skills training,” Malcherek noted. “This partnership represents far more than a formal agreement between institutions. It is a testament to our shared commitment to excellence in vocational education and to the power of international collaboration.”
Preparing South Africa’s aftermarket for the NEV transition
In his address, RMI CEO, Ipeleng Mabusela, outlined the critical role of the automotive retail and aftermarket sector in South Africa’s economy stressing why skills development must move ahead of market shifts.
The automotive aftermarket accounts for more than half of the sector’s value-add and approximately 70% of total automotive employment. With over 23 000 businesses – largely SMEs – and more than 270 000 jobs, it is the backbone of mobility, affordability and road safety across the country.
While battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake remains below 1.5% of the national vehicle parc, hybrid vehicles are already reshaping workshop realities. “Hybrids lead today, EVs will grow next and it is critical skills move ahead of the market,” Mabusela emphasised.
He highlighted that the skills impact of new energy vehicles (NEVs) is felt early in the aftermarket, long before large-scale vehicle volumes are reached. This makes early alignment between industry, colleges and government essential. “That is why this project partners with DHET now – to align policy, skills and economic reality,” he noted.
For the participating colleges, the project represents a practical step towards implementation.
Alfred Ramahlape, Campus Manager of the Athlone Campus at the College of Cape Town, described the November 2025 visit by the HWK and Sequa delegation as an important affirmation of public TVET institutions.
“This project speaks directly to our mandate: to ensure that training translates into workplace competence, not only for young people entering the automotive sector, but also for those already working in it as technology evolves,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of structured workplace exposure through the DHET Centres of Specialisation programme and alignment with occupational qualifications under the QCTO framework to ensure nationally recognised, quality-assured delivery.
Goodman Mnisi, Acting Principal at Tshwane South TVET College, reinforced that partnerships must translate into functioning training pipelines.
“The transition to electric and hybrid vehicles is no longer a future discussion. It is a present reality that requires lecturers who are confident, workshops that are correctly equipped, and curricula that are aligned to occupational standards,” he said.
Tshwane South previously hosted national lecturer training in electric vehicle technologies under an earlier HWK initiative in 2024, demonstrating the sector’s ability to move from isolated centres of excellence to a coordinated, networked system of delivery.
Kim Matikinca, Deputy Principal of Innovation and Partnerships, agreed saying ‘the future starts here’ and echoing Mnisi’s message that training begins with the competence of the trainer. She noted this will be made possible through the international partnerships and through all parties working together and supporting each other to achieve a common goal.
Building a sustainable skills ecosystem
The new TVET–HWK partnership will focus on lecturer development, high-voltage safety, curriculum enhancement and strengthened collaboration between colleges and industry workplaces. By combining the German dual education system’s integration of theory and practice with South Africa’s occupational framework, the project aims to build sustainable, scalable programmes that support employability and enterprise development.
For both countries, the partnership is ultimately about investing in people.
“By combining our strengths, sharing our knowledge and working together toward common goals, we will create opportunities that benefit generations to come,” Malcherek concluded.
