The training initiatives of the South African Paint Manufacturing Association (SAPMA) have been dealt a serious blow with the murder of SAPMA Centre of Excellence’s experienced specialist trainer, Tjaart Booyens.
A respected and well-known figure in the South African building industry, Booyens was shot during an armed robbery at his Dunnotar home on September 19 and died in hospital soon afterwards.
Booyens, 62, was trained as a painter/decorator at the old SA Railways & Harbours and became one of the main trainers at the Building Industries Federation of SA (BIFSA) Training Centre in Springs which closed about 20 years ago, and was recently re-opened by SAPMA as the coatings industry’s Centre of Excellence.
A specialist trainer with accreditation as training provider, assessor, and moderator, Booyens worked for 17 years at the BIFSA Training Centre and then joined Tinta Paints’ Logistics Department when the BIFSA centre was closed. After 11 years, he became SAPMA’s specialist trainer two years ago.
Deryck Spence, executive director of SAPMA, comments: “Tjaart was an expert. His passion, knowledge, skills, promotion of safety and health in the industry, will be sorely missed.”
Spence earlier this year announced that the Centre of Excellence was facing closure as a result of government and industry apathy.
More information from Deryck Spence, tel 011 615 1195 / www.sapma.org.za
