TRADE TEST CERTIFICATES
Get Certified Skills That Get You Hired
Practical training in Diesel Mechanics, Motor Mechanics and Mechanical Fitting — right here in Bothashoek/Burgersfort.
Practical training in Diesel Mechanics, Motor Mechanics and Mechanical Fitting — right here in Bothashoek/Burgersfort.
Master the skills industry actually needs
At the RIH Institute, you don’t just study a trade — you understand it.
Our training is built around the real demands of mining and heavy industry, giving you the technical knowledge employers expect from day one. Every lesson is designed to make you competent, confident and ready for the workshop floor, not stuck in a classroom with outdated theory.
You learn the full scope of your trade — the systems, tools, safety, diagnostics and thinking that turn a student into a true artisan.
Hands-on training that counts toward your future
Here, learning happens in real workshops, on real machines — the same equipment used in the mines and engineering firms across Limpopo.
You train under experienced technicians who show you how the work is done, step by step, until the skills are second nature.
This practical exposure isn’t just for show.
It contributes directly to your trade test readiness and gives you the kind of experience employers trust immediately. You graduate with hours that matter — and confidence built through doing, not guessing.
Your pathway to employment — faster
With a recognised qualification and proven workshop experience, you become the kind of candidate companies compete for.
The Institute is directly connected to the Richbam Group and regional employers, giving you a clear route into real jobs once you qualify.
Most students step into the field quickly — earning a solid salary and building a stable career because their training matches exactly what industry needs today.
You don’t just dream of a better future.
You step into it — prepared, equipped and employable.
The courses and qualifications offered by the Training Institute (RIH Training Institute) can be grouped into three key categories, reflecting its dual focus on core industrial trades and broader technical/management skills development:
NQF Level 04
The RIH Institute is accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) as both a Skills Development Provider (SDP) and an Assessment Centre/Trade Test Centre (AC/TTC), focusing on critical mechanical occupations.
The training methodology emphasizes a rigorous practical application, with students spending the majority of their time in workshops that simulate conditions found in mines and commercial facilities.
Accredited Occupational Trade Courses (NQF Level 04):
• Occupational Certificate: Mechanical Fitter.
• Occupational Certificate: Automotive Motor Mechanic.
• Occupational Certificate: Diesel Mechanic.
We offer the full courses with practical experience as well as ARPL versions, where your previous experience will help you fast-track the process of getting your Trade ticket.
N4, N5, N6
This category focuses on providing students with technical qualifications essential for supervisory and specialized roles within the industrial sector, particularly in the business, farming and engineering fields.
These N-Certificates and Skills Development Provider (SDP) are offered at the N4, N5, and N6 levels (NQF Level). The training offered in these studies directly addresses the needs of the industrial sector located near Burgersfort, bridging the regional skills gap.
The courses on offer for National Certificates can be broken down in these categories:
• Business.
• Engineering.
• Farming.
N4, N5, N6 & NQF Levels 02–04
In addition to technical trades, the Institute is accredited as a Skills Development Provider (SDP) for at the N4, N5, and N6 levels (NQF Level).
The institution offers short Occupational Skills Programmes focused on critical safety needs for industrial environments.
Accredited Occupational Safety Skills Programmes (NQF Levels 02–04):
• Basic Emergency First Aid Responder.
• Intermediate Emergency First Aid Responder.
• Advanced Emergency First Aid Responder.
• Occupational Health and Safety Officer.
QCTO-aligned artisan training on your door-step in Burgersfort / Bothashoek, Limpopo.
Service and repair petrol vehicles and modern automotive systems.
Diagnose, repair and maintain diesel engines used in trucks and heavy machinery.
Install, maintain and repair industrial machinery and mechanical systems.
The RIH Institute didn’t start as a business idea. It started as a personal journey.
Benny Abram Maphanga grew up in the Eastern Limb of Limpopo/Mpumalanga — a region full of mining activity, industry and opportunity, yet held back by one major challenge: the lack of technical skills.
Young people who wanted to become diesel mechanics, fitters or technicians often had to travel far from home, with no guarantee of gaining the practical experience needed to enter the workforce.
Benny understood that struggle well. He lived it.
As a qualified Diesel Mechanic and a product of a public FET College, he experienced both the value and the limitations of the system. “You can get the certificate,” he says, “but without practical hours, you don’t have a career.”
Most local institutions offered theory without real workshop training. And many companies offered practicals only for employees — leaving thousands of young people stuck without a pathway to their trade test.
Growing up in a Christian Family, Benny learned early that leadership means serving others. Teaching, mentoring and helping people grow were part of everyday life. So when he looked at the skills gap around him, he didn’t see a statistic — he saw potential wasted.
The RIH Institute was created to change that.
At RIH Institute, students don’t just study a trade — they live it. They work on real equipment, in real workshops, under trainers who understand the demands of mining and heavy industry. Every program is aligned with the National Development Plan’s skill development goals — because the region doesn’t just need certificates; it needs capable, confident artisans.
And this is just step one.
Benny’s dream is far bigger:
to build the first Technical University in Limpopo.
A place where young people can gain the kind of education and industry access that transforms families, economies and futures.
The RIH Institute is the first building block of that vision — a place where talent is discovered, shaped and prepared for the real world.
01
Hands-On Training, Not Theory Only
02
Local Campus, No Travel or Accommodation Costs
03
Mentorship From Experienced Instructors
04
Certification Pathway That Gets You Employed
05
Strong Local Employer Connections
RIH is a community-rooted trade centre in Bothashoek/Burgersfort dedicated to giving students the skills employers actually want — through practical workshops, modern equipment and instructors who work side-by-side with every learner.
Praktiseer
I got the opportunity to be part of their team (RIH Institute) and obtain my trade certificate in 2024 under mechanical engineering.
They offer apprenticeship programme that combines with practical workplace. If you are looking for a company, apprenticeship Richbam Investment Holding is real and care for everyone.
RIH offer me a job after the experience and skills I got from them.
Bothashoek
RIH Institute played a critical role in my career development.
Through their structured ARPL Diesel Machanic programme, I was able to obtain my trade with both practical workplace exposure and strong theoretical support.
The institution is committed to skills development, empowerment, and producing employable artisans. I highly recommend RIH Institute to anyone looking to build a real career through trades.
Modimole
Im Pleased To Inform Y'all That RIH Institute Was A Total Game Changer For My Career!
They Hooked Me Up With A Solid Diesel Mech Apprenticeship In 2022-2024. They Gave Me Hands-On Experience And Backed It Up With Theory, And Now I'm A Skilled Diesel Mechanic.
RIH Institute Is All About Empowering People And Making Sure That You Have The Right Skills To Get You Employed.
If You Are Looking To Get Into A Trade, RIH Institute Is The Way To Go!!!
Maandagshoek
I recently had the opportunity to explore my career at RIH and I must say, it was an eye-opener.
I’m greatful I got the opportunity to be part of the team that obtained their trades in 2024 under Mechanical Engineering. This company’s got a killer career development program. They’re putting in the work to help youth to develop skills and gain real-world experience.RIH showed me what's possible when a company invests in YOU.
The learnership was real – real projects, real challenges, real growth.And above all it didn’t just offered me a trade but also a job after I’ve obtained my red seal.
“10/10 would recommend exploring your career here!"
Ga-Manoke
If you are looking to level up your skills and get a real career in trades check out RIH Institute.
They offer a structured apprenticeship programme that combines practical workplace exposure with strong theoretical support.
I have benefited greatly from their commitment to skills development and empowerment and obtained my Diesel Mechanic trade in 2022-2024.
Get that trade, Get that future. #RIHInstitute #trades #Careergrowth
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the RIH Institute Training Centre (operating under Richbam Investment Holding (Pty) Ltd/Ba-Tubatse Repairs) is an accredited educational flagship.
It is fully accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) as both a Trade Test Centre (TTC)/Assessment Centre (AC) and a Skills Development Provider (SDP).
The Institute provides QCTO-aligned training in high-demand mechanical trades.
These include the Occupational Certificate programs for Mechanical Fitter, Automotive Motor Mechanic, and Diesel Mechanic.
The institution is accredited to offer National Certificates at the N4, N5, and N6 levels (NQF Level 05) in diverse fields, including:
◦ Engineering Studies (specifically Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, and Chemical Engineering).
◦ Business and Management (Human Resource Management, Management Assistant, and Business Management).
◦ Other Fields such as Farming Management, Educare, and Fertilizer Manufacturing.
The RIH Institute emphasizes a rigorous focus on practical application.
Students spend the majority of their time in modern, well-equipped workshops engaging in hands-on training that simulates the real-world conditions found in mines and commercial repair facilities.
Yes, the institution offers specialized operational and maintenance training, often integrated with the distribution and servicing of Advanced Braking Technology (ABT) braking systems.
This specialized training focuses on the installation, maintenance, and diagnostics of these critical safety systems.
The institution, Richbam Investment Holding (Pty) Ltd or Ba-Tubatse Repairs, is not allowed to issue any certificates.
Qualification and programme certificates are issued by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) or the relevant body.
A key competitive advantage of the RIH Institute is its direct synergy and integration within the RICHBAM ecosystem.
The institute provides clear career pathways and potential placement opportunities for graduates within the Ba-Tubatse Repair Workshop (the mechanical service arm) and Lyalor 75 Mining Machinery (the heavy equipment solutions arm).
The RIH Institute Training Centre is strategically situated in Burgersfort, Limpopo Province.
Its physical address is Bothashoek, Phologong Section, Mashamotane, Burgersfort, Limpopo 1150.
We have good relationships with various placement agencies and mines and are confident that most if not all of our graduates will find suitable employment quickly after graduating.
Accreditations granted by the QCTO for Skills Development Providers (SDPs) have varying periods, such as 1.5 years (for many N-Certificates, expiring May 2026) or 5 years (for the Trade Test Centre status and Emergency First Aid Skills Programmes, expiring between February 2030 and June 2030).
Yes, the institution is accredited to offer Occupational Skills Programmes, such as the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Emergency First Aid Responder courses.
The RIH Institute offers ARPL - recognizing your previous learning and experience. This allows you to fast-track your studies and accelerate your way to the top.
We take pride in our rigorous adherence to South African educational standards. RIH Institute is fully accredited by the QCTO and relevant SETAs, ensuring that our training meets the highest legislative and industry requirements.
Get industry-ready with RIH Institute. View our full list of accredited certifications issued by South African bodies like merSETA and HWSETA. Start your journey with a qualification that counts.
+27(64) 434-6699
+27(64) 434-6699
+27(71) 348-1720
admin@rihinstitute.co.za
registration@rihinstitute.co.za
rihinstitute@gmail.com
RIH Institute is a registered South African Training Institute under:
merSETA Reg. No.:
AC-TTC070225201340
RIH Institute is a hands-on training centre focused on building real skills for real work. We offer accredited occupational and skills programmes that prepare learners to enter the workplace with confidence, competence, and practical experience. Rooted in the community and aligned with industry needs, RIH Institute exists to open doors to employment, career growth, and sustainable livelihoods through quality training.
Download our complete 2026 Prospectus here.
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