News from Chalan Africa -New compliance laws for tour guides
Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s Non Compliance leads to Illegal Tourist guiding by Chalan Africa Tours & Travel…
A directive which was issued in the past, allowed guides to register without a Cathsseta (Theta) certificate, however in February this was withdrawn, in terms of the Tourism Second Amendment Act 70 of 2000 in order to register as a Tourist Guide, a Cathsseta Certificate is required.
CPUT is not CATHSETA accredited and hence the Seta cannot issue an accredited certificate to tourist guides who trained through CPUT and who now wish to re-register.
As of February 2013 the Western Cape registrar has been advised that if anyone is registered without the Cathsseta Certificate they will be acting against the law!
CPUT has been offering this course for many years. They are aware of the current issue and have been asked to make contact with Cathsseta to discuss learners who were trained through them and wish to remain registered as Tourist Guides. To date The Western Cape registrar have had no feedback in this regard.
In essence, all tourist guides who obtained their qualification from CPUT is currently unable to re-register as tourist guides!
There was an article in this weekend newspaper from another tourist guide re: this matter. It seems that this change in legislation was not communicated to the registered tourist guides and that parties are now abdicating responsibility. The tourist guides are now having to carry the can themselves i.e. redo the course / register for RPL (recognition of prior learning) with a suitable accredited service provider and all at their own cost!! Alternatives include guiding illegally due to circumstance or be prevented from earning a living.
Make sure, if you are a Tour Guide, that you are in the know and 100% compliant.
Chantell McBain-Charles – Chalan Africa Tours