Driving Growth, Employment and Poverty Eradication by Rethinking Informal Skills Development Strategy in South Africa: A Study of Informal Mechanic Work, Apprenticeship and Training.

In South Africa, the unemployment of unskilled and less-educated is rife among the youths. The study provides policy insights towards informal sector improvement, poverty eradication and unemployment effects in South Africa. The study empirically examines the six (6) informal mechanic workshops in KwaZulu-Natal province using qualitative methodology to understand the process through which informal sector recruit its members. The study finding delineates the challenges and limitations of workplace learning and training. These include training needs, environment issues and work safety needs, lack of modern-training facilities, lack of information centers and institutions that speaks to the informal training worldview. The study concludes that most skills obtained through informal training would eventually become obsolete given the rapid technological development due to lack of skills upgrade platforms. The TVET colleges tend to replicate university products and processes in so many ways, instead of providing its own unique brand to resolve the skills lacuna currently existing in the market. The study recommends that skills acquired through informal training be given proper policy recognition, validation and support by the state with the aim to improve the quality of skills obtained, the training and the working condition. The study further recommends social partners to partner with the government and skills providers to develop training programmes that enrich the informal training and work process. The study also recommends the provision of skills-training centres that are furnished with modern (training) tools, and capable of offering skills-upgrade training. Finally, the study proposes a rethink of the informal skills development policy in the country.