| EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AFRICAN OFF-ROAD ACADEMY was initiated in 2004 when the founder Tinus Botha watched a home video of a group of 4x4 friends "having 4x4 fun" where they converted a pool of drinking water supposed to be for the farm animals into a mud hole, totally undrinkable. To make matters worse, a recovery operation took place were a kinetic strap and a tow rope had to be joined and was done with a bow shackle. The snatching failed after several attempts as the kinetic strap broke and the shackle went flying into the back of the recovery vehicle. This incident made Tinus stop playing 4x4 for two years and decided to focus on training in stead of playing and start educating 4x4 owners to operate in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. As there was no formal 4x4 trainer qualification in the country he started attending 4x4 training courses throughout the country to familiarize himself with the different techniques and routines of 4x4 training and built his learning program around this acquired information and experience. Tinus gained practical experience by training for Off-Road Tactix, Safari Centre 4x4 and North West 4x4 Academy. In 2008 when the Unit standards for 4x4 Driving came up on the SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) web site for public comment, Tinus took the Unit standard and compared it with what he had developed and found the then Unit standards inadequate and used his public voice and commented. What happened afterwards is not for public knowledge but luckily Tinus did not retaliate against the big guys but stood his ground and thanks to the SAQA an agreement was reached and the registration of the Unit standards could continue. With this unpleasant but inevitable ordeal Tinus undoubtedly proved himself to the SGB (Standard Generating Body) and SAQA as the SME (Subject Matter Expert) in 4x4 & Off-Road training in South Africa. The Unit standards were registered on 26 November 2008. These Unit Standards were included in the Qualification Professional Driving and listed under the TETA (Transport Education Training Authority) on 27 Feb 2009 Tinus realized that to be a 4x4 subject matter expert, does not qualify one to be a successful training provider under any Seta. To become a successful provider is similar to being a university for specific field of training. To run a training provider operation successfully requires the same skills as for running a successful company. This requires Sales and marketing skills, Human relations skills, financial management skills and 4x4 subject matter expertise. Tinus's previous Business, Financial and Human relations management qualifications and experience and his knowledge of the OBE system in South Africa added to the perfect mix to build AFRICAN OFF-ROAD ACADEMY as a successful provider for 4x4 training in South Africa. Tinus also qualified himself as an Assessor, Moderator and Professional 4x4 & Overland tourist guide under SAQA. From here the long journey began. Tinus started the accreditation process by developing the learner, facilitator, assessment & moderation material, all in relation with the unit standards & SAQA requirements. All the above was done without sponsorships as unprecedented training and integrity is of utmost importance to AFRICAN OFF-ROAD ACADEMY. We are proud to be the first 4x4 & Off-Road Training Provider to be accredited under TETA to train the unit standards US125135/254154 for 4x4 & Off-Road driver training. Gratitude's: Its always difficult and dangerous to highlight persons whom in one or other way made a positive contribution to the accomplishments to date. It would be a incomplete statement not to mention my gratitude to these special persons in building AFRICAN OFF-ROAD ACADEMY My Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST Lettie, Alde, De Wet & Dewald (My family) In no particular order: Chris Combrinck (MC Motors) Piet Weideman (Camil Suspensions) Ludiek Prinsloo (Bothaville Toyota) Ronnie Webster (Friend) Gawie & Sylvia Rouwenhorst (Friend) Erna vd Nest (HRD Consulting) Janett Schlebusch (Friend) Edwin Wright (Friend) Glyn Demmer (Friend) |