South Africa’s automotive aftermarket has reached an important milestone in strengthening one of its most specialised technical trades, with the successful completion of the new Automotive Machinist Occupational Trade Qualification.

Driven by the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) Training department and the Automotive Remanufacturers’ Association (ARA), a proud association of the RMI, the qualification represents a significant investment in developing the skilledartisans needed to support South Africa’s automotive engineering and remanufacturing sector.

“The Automotive Machinist trade is a specialised and essential part of the remanufacturing industry, but it is also a scarce skill that we need to protect and develop for the future,” says Attie Serfontein, National Director of ARA. “Completingthis qualification is an important step towards creating credible career pathways and ensuring that we have the technical expertise needed to sustain quality remanufacturing in South Africa.”

The qualification is the result of an extensive, industry-driven development process involving RMI Training, ARA, the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB), the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), merSETA, industry assessorsand specialist subject matter experts.

The process gained momentum in November 2025, when industry leaders and assessors met at NAMB’s offices in Olifantsfontein to align trade-test standards and assessment criteria. Subsequent technical engagements refined the assessment instrumentsand competency standards to reflect modern workplace requirements.

The process also highlighted the importance of collaboration between technical specialists and curriculum designers in translating industry needs into effective occupational training.

Teshney Samuel, RMI Training Advisor, who participated in the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Technical Working Group responsible for developing and implementing the qualification, says the experience broadened her understandingof automotive machining and the workplace requirements of this specialised trade.

“Although I am not a subject matter expert in automotive machining, the project allowed me to contribute my curriculum design expertise by helping translate technical knowledge and industry requirements into a structured, relevant occupationalcurriculum. Working alongside industry specialists reinforced the importance of combining technical expertise with sound curriculum design to support effective training, assessment and implementation,” says Samuel.

She adds that the opportunity was professionally enriching and strengthened her understanding of how collaborative curriculum development can contribute to artisan development in South Africa’s automotive aftermarket.

The transition from the legacy qualification framework to an occupational qualification places greater emphasis on contemporary workplace competence. Automotive machining requires technical precision in machining operations, measurementand surface finishing, with engineering specifications, machining tolerances, calibrated equipment and rigorous quality control all essential to the reliability of remanufactured components.

“Professional remanufacturing depends on precision, technical knowledge and consistently high standards,” Serfontein explains. “The qualification helps align artisan development with the practical competencies our industry needs, supportingdependable workmanship and a first-time-right approach.”

The qualification also supports sustainable remanufacturing, which extends the useful life of automotive components through specialist engineering, reducing unnecessary replacement and waste.

The project has progressed into practical application, with a recent pilot rollout at Golden Arrow’s facilities in the Western Cape providing an opportunity to validate the occupational curriculum and assessment approach in a real engineeringenvironment.

This will help ensure that the competencies being assessed reflect workplace requirements and the standards expected by industry.

Rebuilding national trade-test capacity

Alongside the qualification, rebuilding Automotive Machinist trade-test capacity remains a critical priority.

“The limited availability of accredited trade-test centres presents a challenge for developing new artisans and giving experienced candidates access to formal occupational recognition,” says Louis van Huyssteen, RMI National Training Director.

During the qualification-development process, RMI Training, ARA and Indlela/NAD, under the Department of Higher Education and Training, also worked towards re-establishing Automotive Machinist trade-test capacity.

Van Huyssteen says expanding the national footprint is essential to meeting demand. “A single facility will not be sufficient to meet national needs. We must explore additional capacity and ensure that candidates have accessible routesfrom training and workplace experience through to trade testing and formal recognition.”

Developing this infrastructure will help establish a more sustainable pipeline of qualified Automotive Machinists while protecting the specialist expertise on which the remanufacturing sector depends.

Investing in the future of remanufacturing

Automotive remanufacturing supports affordability, extends component life and contributes to more efficient resource use. By restoring suitable components to the required engineering standards, the sector also supports the broader circulareconomy.

The Automotive Machinist Occupational Trade Qualification is therefore an investment in technical excellence, sustainable engineering and the long-term resilience of South Africa’s automotive aftermarket.

For ARA and RMI Training, the focus now is on supporting implementation, strengthening trade-test capacity and developing the next generation of artisans.

“South Africa needs to retain and grow the specialist technical skills that underpin a credible remanufacturing industry. This milestone gives us a stronger foundation to do that. By investing in people, practical competence and accessibletrade testing, we can help secure the future of Automotive Machining and remanufacturing in our country,” concludes Serfontein.