Background

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through the Directorate of Industrial and Vocational Training has a mandate for vocational training based on the Industrial and Vocational Training (IVT) Act of 1982. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is currently housing the national trade tests standards which are a basis for industrial skills assessment.

The ministry in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Training is embarking on the development of vocational training unit standards and qualifications to register them in the newly approved Eswatini Qualifications Framework (ESQF) in order to align the current approaches in the SADC region.

The Government of Eswatini in this project assisted by the Government of the Republic of China (ROC) – Taiwan under the Technical and Vocational Skills Certification Enhancement Project (the Project). The country in the past years did pilot development of unit standards and a qualification.


The Unit Standards and Qualifications were a result of an extensive consultation process and industry mapping combined with benchmarking from materials from other countries in the region.

Due to evolution in the training sector, the unit standards and qualification need to be revisited to confirm its relevance with current practices and to cover any likely gaps together with removing irrelevant applications.

The materials were not implemented due to lack of structures which are now in place.  The project looks to review the standards for implementation and registration in the Eswatini Qualifications Framework.

So far, there are five working committees of experienced experts that are drafting the unit standards from NQF level 2 up to level 4. For each working committee, there is one or two writing experts contracted to facilitate the workshops for the field experts.

Electrical Engineering

Experts, selected across the engineering sector were invited at a workshop for competency based education and training (CBET) and then a few of the electrical experts were selected to formulate the unit standards. The electrical engineering working committee is comprised of the following experts:

  1. Malangeni Dlamini – Tambankulu Estate
  2. Bongani Ngwenya – RES Corporation
  3. Dumsani Hlophe – Eswatini Railway
  4. John Mahlalela – University of Eswatini
  5. Khisimuzi Tshabalala – Eswatini Electricity Company
  6. Jabulani Shongwe – Gwamile VOCTIM
  7. Menzi Mthethwa - Eswatini Premier Milling
  8. Mazambane Dlamini - TVET Project (Taiwan Technical Mission)

The unit standards will be packaged into a qualification which will have to be adopted by local TVET institutions.

Hospitality & Tourism

The hospitality and tourism working committee is comprised of the following experts:

  1. Philile Dlamini-Nabaala – Eswatini College of Technology
  2. Gladys Dlamini - Eswatini College of Technology
  3. Jabulani Khanyile – Royal Villas
  4. Fola Dlamini – Ramblas Resturent
  5. Pinky Dlamini –  Piggs Peak Hotel
  6. Thembinkhosi Sikhondze – Happy Valley Hotel
  7. Thembi Tshabala – Independent
Heating Ventilation Air-condition & Refrigeration

The air-condition and refrigeration, otherwise known as HVACR, working committee is comprised of the following experts:

  1. Manyakatane Dlamini – Gwamile VOCTIM
  2. Clifford N. Maziya – USA Embassy
  3. Bongani Ngubeni – Palfridge
  4. Mervin Du Pont – Auto Air Con
  5. Samkeliso Mavuso – Staycool
  6. Peter Chawira - SAE
  7. Mbongiseni Ndlela - UGH
  8. Thabiso N. Dlamini – CIC
  9. Brian Mbingo-  Independent
Welding and Fabrication

The Welding and Fabrication working committee is comprised of the following experts:

  1. Elvis N. Kunene – Gwamile VOCTIM
  2. Selbourne Nkambule – Gwamile VOCTIM
  3. Mlandvo Gule – Montigny
  4. Enock Msibi – UBOMBO Sugar (ILLOVO)
  5. Mzwandile Dlamini – RES Corporation
  6. Mandla Lokotfwako - ECOT
  7. Jotham Mhone - Montigny
Motor Vehicle Mechanic

The Motor Vehicle Mechanic working committee is comprised of the following experts:

  1. Dlamini James – Gwamile VOCTIM
  2. Vusi Mngomezulu – Gwamile VOCTIM
  3. Benedict Mtsetfwa – CTA (Govt)
  4. Wazy Surtee – ECOT
  5. Dlamini Zwelakhe – Auto Med
  6. Devarnard Dehari - Stucky Motors(Mercedes)
  7. Anxious Gamedze - Southern Star
  8. Sitsini Malindzisa - RES Corporation
  9. Sibusiso Mdluli - Stucky Motors (Mercedes)
Qualifications Under Development
The qualifications under development comes from electrical and mechanical engineering.
NQF Qualification
Fields Trades Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Fitting ✔ ✔ ✔
Electrical Engineering Instrumentation ✔ ✔ ✔
Automotive Engineering Auto Electrical ✔ ✔ ✔
Electrical Engineering Solar PV Installatation ✔ ✔ ✔
The NQF level 2, 3 and 4 qualifications will replace the trade testing Grade 3, 2 and 1 respectively. Other qualifications for other trades will be considered for the NQF alignment. On the list of trades to be also considered for qualification development in 2024, there is Auto Electrical and Solar PV Installation.
National Validation 2024
There is currently no qualification posted for national validation. The Instrumentation and Mechanical Fitting qualifications are currently being reviewed internally and will be released later this year for national validation.
EQA Qualification Registration Documents
The following qualifications are fully registered with Eswatini Qualification's Authority (EQA) and are up to NQF Level 4 . The qualifications are a cluster of unit standards developed by local industry experts, vocational stakeholders and they also contain unit standards from South Africa, New Zealand and Austraila.
Registered Qualifications
The following qualifications are fully registered with Eswatini Qualification's Authority (EQA) and can be used by TVET Stakeholders in developing curricula for their institutions.
Motor Vehicle Machanics Electrician Heating, Ventilation and Air- Conditioning (HVAC) Weldinging & Fabrication