A mural at Jendamark Automation’s manufacturing and assembly hall has not only turned heads, but also sparked a discussion about the need for more artisans coming into the labour market.
The mural, produced by local graphic artist and spray painter Buntu Fihla, was unveiled on Friday with the intention of rousing the interest of school leavers in the often-overlooked technical trade sector.
With the attention on the mural, which came to life after 14 days, the disparity between vocational training programmes and university qualifications came to the fore.
There is a worrying decline in the number of applications for advertised positions for artisans, especially among toolmakers.
The large art display features a male and female artisan.
Representing the gender balance which the sector espouses, the figures look up proudly with their arms crossed.
A tool in each artisan’s hand represents the mechanical and electrical trades.
Fihla’s latest artwork emblazoning the private industrial building steers away from the public art projects he has completed across the city.
Among his work, the artist has created a dandelion mural at a building on Russell Road in collaboration with Banele Njadayi.
The two came together to unveil a mural at the renovated bridge near the Tramways building before collaborating to complete a mural titled Isidima Sethu at The Athenaeum in Central in July 2022.
Fihla, whose style leans towards the vibrant hip-hop culture, said he seeks to imbue a sense of dignity through his art.
“I strive to share uplifting messages, and community-led work that listens and responds to people,” he said.
Protégé Seamus Coetzee, who assisted Fihla, said he revelled in being part of the project.
He completed a 72m mural at Oceanview student accommodation in North End in collaboration with Leon Mbuthia and Mpumelelo Tsotetsi and again with Mbuthia at Loop Coffee in Overbaakens.
The young artist shared what he hoped for the Jendermark mural.
“I hope it [inspires] the improvement of work standards, especially for women and people of colour, who weren’t always allowed into the space.
“I hope it inspires school-going children to see the potential of working in the car industry and how they too can take up art.”
Over the last five years, the intake of female to male apprentices has grown from 10% to roughly 38% at Jendermark, a hub for automotive component assembly systems for the global market.
The company planned to increase the percentage of female apprenticeships.
One woman feeding into this aim and challenging the status quo in the male-dominated sector is Nobuntu Mcunukelwa.
A fully qualified artisan after completing her apprenticeship three years ago, the journey has been exciting for her.
“To see a woman represented on the wall shows that a person can do anything if they believe in it, regardless of their gender or race,” she said.
“[The apprenticeship programme] has come a long way since I started, as one of only two women [part of the first intake of 10%].”
In November, higher education, science and innovation minister Blade Nzimande said SA needed at least 60% of school leavers to pursue artisan-type training to meet the country’s scarce skills demand.
Jendamark manufacturing and assembly manager Marinus van Rooyen said most grade 12 pupils viewed a university degree as more attractive than a technical qualification.
He echoed the intention of the mural.
“I hope it inspires the next generation of artisans — young pupils and students coming through.
“The value of artisans is enormous, but SA is struggling to [attract] qualified [craftspeople].
“The manufacturing sector can only grow if we have the talented engineers, artisans and technicians with the skills to build and fix things.”
HeraldLIVE