Although progress of the Unit Standard has been somewhat slower than
originally planned as a result of the SETA’s workload, MERSETA advised
the status as at Monday 29 May.
Current Status
The custodianship of the Unit Standard has
reverted from TETA (Transport Education Training Authority) to MERSETA
(Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Education Training
Authority).
MERSETA advised that the Unit Standard is currently in the
Comments/Motivation stage of the process, which finishes at the end of
the June. The comments received to date have been complimentary, with
some minor amendments which have been factored into the draft.
MERSETA
also advised that Memoranda of Understanding (MOU’s) have been put into
place with TETA and THETA (Tourism, Hospitality & Sport Education
& Training Authority), allowing the Unit Standard to be accessible
to these bodies as an elective standard – in other words, the Unit
Standard will be recognised as a component of qualifications controlled
by these bodies, such as Adventure Guiding.
NAAMSA (Nat.
Association of Automotive Manufacturers of SA) has also lent it’s
support to the process, having seen the value of competent off-road
drivers and instructors to the Motor Industry.
The Next Steps
Following this stage, the Unit Standards will be forwarded to the SGB (Standard Generating Body) and submitted by the SGB to SAQA (SA Qualifications Authority) for approval.
This will involve the following steps –
• Coordination & logging • QA checking • Public Comment & posting in Government Gazette • Liaison with SGB Consultative Panel
Once these steps have been completed, SAQA will authorise and register the Unit Standard.
Once the Unit Standard is in place, the process of accrediting Instructors and facilities can begin. The Unit Standard will meet the training requirements of various groups, such as –
The Licensing of 4x4 Drivers and Accredited Instructors
Certain claims have been made and articles published in both newspapers and industry magazines concerning the licensing of off-road drivers and ‘accredited’ Instructors. We have addressed both issues below.
4x4 Driver Licensing
During the course of March, articles appeared in the press stating that special licences will be required for any off road 4x4 driving. This was irresponsible journalism and is definitely not the intention of NOW (National Off Road Workshop) or the Unit Standard Working Group.
Quite simply, the route that NOW is suggesting in conjunction with DEAT (Dept of Environmental Affairs & Tourism) is that use is made of the Unit Standard process to identify competent off road drivers, and that these drivers are permitted access to areas deemed sensitive (as identified by DEAT). Drivers who do not complete the Unit Standard will not be barred from all off road driving; they will merely not be able to have access to the areas deemed to be sensitive.
Accredited Instructors
It has been brought to the attention of the Working Group that certain people are claiming to be ‘accredited instructors’, with a recent press article making a similar reference.
The facts concerning this issue are –
There are currently no Instructors in the country accredited to train against the Unit Standard.
Until such time as the Unit Standard has been officially authorised and registered by SAQA, no Instructor or facility may lay claim to being ‘officially accredited’ to train against the requirements of the Unit Standard or similar.
Once the Unit Standard is authorised, registered and available, all applications for accreditation will be dealt with on an equal basis, with no preference being shown.
Should you have any queries in this regard or need further information, please feel free to contact the undersigned by e-mail (to
) or any member of the Working Group.
Discuss this article on our 
MERSETA advised that the Unit Standard is currently in the
Comments/Motivation stage of the process, which finishes at the end of
the June. The comments received to date have been complimentary, with
some minor amendments which have been factored into the draft.
