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The Southern African Institute for Theatre Technology (SAITT) was established in 1969 by theatre technicians and technical personnel working in theatre, headed by P.P.B. Breytenbach, Michal Grobbelaar (Johannesburg Civic Theatre), Anthony Farmer, Mannie Manim (Market Theatre), Walter Smit (South African State Theatre), and others. The organisation came into being due to the lack of status and acknowledgement of the contribution of technical personnel to the stage craft. Michal Grobbelaar was elected as the first president with P.P.B. Breytenbach as the vice president. Grobbelaar remained president of the institute till his retirement in 1992. Records between 1992 and 1995 are not available. Rudi Kesting served as president between 1995 and 1999.

The aims of the Institute included setting technical standards for the industry, continuing professional development for employed theatre technicians, and the development of training programmes for theatre technical students at Universities and Technikons. The original idea was for the Institute to train people itself, utilizing in-service training at theatres such as Artscape in Cape Town (then known as the Nico Malan Theatre), but this did not get of the ground. At the Institute's annual conference in 1974, a motion was passed to appeal to the Department of National Education to start a course in theatre technology at the Witwatersrand Technical College. This was followed by a similar course at the Cape Town Technical College and also at the Pretoria Technical College. These colleges later became Universities of Technology, and Tshwane University of Technology continues to offer a Diploma in Performing Arts with a specialisation in Theatre Arts & Design. In 1998 the Technical Production & Services Association (TPSA) was established as an offshoot of the SAITT. At that time, corporate theatre, live music and the live-events industry were developing quickly, and industry practitioners recognised the need to develop an Association that existed independently of the traditional theatre community. One year after establishing the TPSA, the SAITT was disbanded, and the two groups again merged to form one Association covering both theatre and the technical production of other events. A highlight of the TPSA’s early efforts was the development of SANS10366, the SA national standard for safety in the events industry. The first version of the standard was published in 2006, with subsequent versions published in 2009, 2012 and 2015. The document established safety standards for the events industry in South Africa, with the work of the TPSA identified in the opening credits for each edition. In 2015 the TPSA merged with the Southern African Communications Industries Association (SACIA), a professional body recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The TPSA continues to operate as a Council within SACIA, covering both the theatre and live events industry. In September 2017, SACIA launched three professional designations that recognise the skill, knowledge and competence of technical crew working in the theatre and live events industry. Individuals are assessed based on their education, work experience and work ethic. Individuals applying for a designation are also required to write an examination and provide a Portfolio of Evidence supporting their claim of competence.

While the SAITT no longer exists, the vision articulated by the founding members continues to play out through the efforts of SACIA and the TPSA Council.