Very often we are asked questions about the Oppenheimer Training School in South Africa. We contacted the principal of the school, Koos Rademeyer, who started his way in the diamond industry in 1966 as a diamond cutter apprentice. Later he was asked to run the training of new employees joining the company he was working for. Then he became a factory foreman and later a factory manager, finally being promoted to the position of operations manager. In 1996, Koos Rademeyer turned to be the principal of the then Diamond Training School and this is where he has been ever since, taking care of this institution, designing and developing training materials and trying to share his experience with the new generation of diamond workers.
What is the Diamond Centre in Johannesburg today?
Well, Johannesburg is the economic hub of South Africa and all the major diamond factories and diamond dealers have offices in the Diamond Centre. It also houses small Diamond Manufacturers as well as Jewellery Manufacturers.
Who is working there?
Most of the DTC sightholders in South Africa have offices in and around the Diamond Centre. The legislative bodies like the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator (SADPMR) are based in the Diamond Centre and all imports and exports have to be done by their office; the State Diamond Trader is also housed here. Rough Diamond Tenders are run in this Centre, and then the people that I mentioned in your previous question.
In your opinion, which companies may be viewed as examples of success within the diamond industry in South Africa?
There are many companies who are successful and have great success stories. In the next few years, new and upcoming business will surely make their mark.
When was your school founded and what was the reason to open it?
The school was founded in 1991 by the South African Diamond Industry as there was a need to fast track new employees to a level where they could be employable without the employers having to go through the training process.
Your school is named in honour of Harry Oppenheimer. What role does the Oppenheimer family play in your school?
Yes, the school has been named in Honour of Harry Oppenheimer. And we are very proud of it. They are not directly involved but we have good relationships with their previous companies.
You have great experience in the diamond industry that you would like to pass on to students. What is the special knowledge possessed by a diamond professional from South Africa? In what way are you different from similar teachers, say, in Israel or America?
I cannot comment on what is taught in other countries, but we are up to speed with what the trends, and the need in the industry are. We are of opinion that we are training and giving the relevant information and guidance to our students.
Who are the tutors and teachers in The Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Training School?
We have very capable Facilitators in the various sections each with more than 30 years hands on experience. Our training facility is setup as a working factory and students are trained on natural diamonds, we are continually updating with industry trends and developments.
What is the most important thing, which offered by your school?
The Values that the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Training School adheres by, and we endeavour to transfer those same values to our staff and students. To train new entrants end existing employees in the diamond manufacturing industry to become effective and proficient in the courses that they enrolled for.
Taking into account the broad variety of new diamond processing technologies which appeared in the diamond industry lately, what kind of methods do you like more personally? What methods are being taught in your school?
a) New Technology has made huge impact on the diamond industry and has had huge advantages for the manufactures and the clients,
b) I am a firm believer that you need to move with the time and embrace technologies, So to me there must be a good balance between using technology and the human element. Diamond polishing is and art and it adds to the mystery of the billion year old natural resource and in my opinion that should not be lost. At the school we use both technology and the human element in my opinion you still need to understand the basic so that technology can be used to its optimum advantage.
What do your students get finally? What is the value of the document, which is obtained by your students at the end of their courses?
Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Training School has a very good reputation in the diamond world and students and employers know that the quality of education that is delivered by the school is of high standard. We have a very international student compliment from all over the global. So yes, I think that if you have a Harry Oppenheimer certificate it does carry value based on our values and the level of educations provided.
Who are being trained at your school and for what purposes?
The school is there to help new entrants enter the diamond world also to further the knowledge of existing people in the industry. We have the following course on offer Rough Diamond Evaluation Course, Diamond Polishing Course, Polished Diamond Grading Course, and we can, and have developed special training programmes for Companies and Organizations.
Do you help to get jobs for people who received training at your school?
Factories know that every 6 Month we have students finishing the polishing course and they do contact us regarding students so we will inform the students and they can contact with potential employers. We cannot guarantee jobs. We will assist however.
What kind of support do you get from De Beers? Do you receive support from the Government?
The Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Training School NPC is a Non Profit company and is self sustained.
Veronica Novoselova, Rough&Polished
