​The Stellenbosch University Water Institute (SUWI) presented a short course entitled 'Water quality management and risk assessment at water care works' at Northern Cape Rural Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College in Upington from 26 to 28 September 2018. 

Lecturers from the Upington, Okiep and Kathu campuses of the Northern Cape Rural TVET College attended the course, alongside municipal officials from the Namakwa District Municipality, as well as the Dawid-Kruiper and Kai Garib Municipalities.

The Principal of Northern Cape Rural TVET, Mr. Percy Sago, welcomed all of the participants on the first day of the course by giving an overview of the College and highlighting the regional training requirements related to water and energy in the Northern Cape Region.  The short course consisted of classroom-based training as well as a visit to the Upington Water Treatment Works.

The purpose of the course is to capacitate the South African water sector to coordinate and execute risk-based water safety and operational activities within defined water services schemes.  The course intends to enable tutors and trainers, as well as engineers and officials from the three tiers of government to select, review or develop a wastewater risk abatement plan and water safety plan for a defined water services works.

The Stellenbosch University-accredited short course forms part of an Energy and Water Services Sector Education Training Authority (EWSETA) initiative to increase the training capacity of TVET college lecturers in the South African municipal environment.  This initiative is in accordance with the new National Water Resource Strategy II (NWRS2), which makes specific reference to establishing partnerships between training providers and the workplace. 

The White Paper for Post School Education and Training (2014), recognizes the need for capacity building within colleges and the increased need for partnerships between universities, Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAs) and employers, as well as the expansion of workplace-based training.

SUWI together with the principle of the College is currently formulating an MOU and further collaboration will be explored by district municipality of Namakwa. 

For more information about this short course initiative, kindly contact Ms. Tania Van der Merwe at 021 808 5845​