Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Training for independence

Xolani Khumalo and Dolly Cele cut a piece of glass

The Downstream Aluminium Centre for Technology (DACT) aims to provide training and act as an incubating facility where entrepreneurs in the aluminium casting industry can successfully grow to independence. Apart from mentorship, access to markets is also provided for tenants. Ultimately it is hoped that the venture will spark growth in the aluminium industry and that entrepreneurs trained at the facility will capture a part of the new market. DACT is based at the Zululand Chamber of Business Foundation (ZCBF) in Alton, Richards Bay. The ZCBF was established in 1995 and one of its ancillary projects, the Downstream Aluminium Pilot Project (DAPP) was initiated in 2000.

The DAPP facilities were completed in 2002 and officially opened in July. This initiative prompted the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to also contribute to the aluminium industry. The DTI then pledged its support for the initiative by providing funding for the establishment of an aluminium incubator. A stringent selection criteria is applied to ensure that only the candidates most likely to succeed in aluminium casting, are chosen. These talented workers produce a product range that includes garden furniture, decorative filigree work, ventilators, balustrades, lamp poles and light fittings which require substantial skill to produce. Apart from the production of these products, substantial effort is spent on fettling, finishing off, polishing and filing, thus providing job opportunities for semi-skilled people.