A Food Safety Quality Assurer works within the hospitality industry to ensure that there are adequate practices that prevent food contamination during handling and distribution.
Nelisiwe Tshabangu (33) from Pretoria in Gauteng is now a Food Safety Assurer student at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria thanks to the Department of Tourism.
Tshabangu was part of a one-year Food Safety Quality Assurer programme, that was hosted by the Department of Tourism.
The initiative helped Tshabangu to understand the importance of food preparation, sanitary procedures, and quality management.
“I love food and I am all for hygienic practices to be implemented within the restaurant chain,” she said.
Tshabangu adds that she came to know about the programme when a friend directed her to the Department of Tourism’s website where opportunities for young people were advertised and she applied.
The programme also enrolled 108 unemployed youth residing in Gauteng.
“I have an immense passion for working with people, and so the hospitality sector appealed to me from a very young age” added Tshabangu.
The programme was structured so that 70% was practical experience and 30% included theory training.
Graduates from the programme were awarded a National Certificate in Food Safety Quality Assurers (NQF Level 4).
The qualification is also accredited by the Food and Beverages Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority, and the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education Training Authority.
She advises all unemployed youth to regularly scout the Department of Tourism’s websites, especially under their learnership programmes and apply.
Tshabangu says her future is bright as she sees herself opening a small business venture as an independent Food Quality Assurer service provider.
“One day I would like to own a business that conducts these safety and quality checks across all small restaurants in South Africa to ensure that they do comply with the food safety standards,” she concluded.
For more information about the Department of Tourism, visit www.tourism.gov.za.
You can also visit www.cathsseta.org.za
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