Artisans to benefit from new specialized school in Sekhukhune, Limpopo launched by Minister of High Education Dr. Blade Nzimande

By CityLife Arts Writer

On Thursday, October 21, 2021, Minister of Higher Education, Tchnology and Innovation  Dr. Blade Nzimande launched the construction of a new specialised school in Sekhuhune, Limpopo, that will benefit young artisans as well as provide a trading space for local entrepreneurs in the small business sector.

By launching of this new college Nzimande breathed a new life into Groblersdal on Thursday 21 October 2021 at the sod turning ceremony to officially launch the construction of the Sekhukhune Skills Development Centre.

As Dr Nzimande said at the launch of the centre, it is an initiative that is going to change the community and their lives forever, for it is a centre that will contribute massively to the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Decade of Artisan initiated but the government to development critical artisanal skills.

 More significantly, this centre, which is one of the unique ones in the country, is being built in a rural area and will serve as an inspiration to rural children that they don’t have to go to the big cities to acquire skills.

“To be constructed in a predominantly rural area, the centre will assist in advancing rural development while also creating sustainable livelihoods for the benefit of the youth of Sekhukhune in particular and Limpopo province at large.

“ We are here to break ground for the construction of this massive Skills Development centre, which will be a trailblazer in this province, and one of a kind as you can see with the buildings that are already coming up,” Nzimande said.

The construction of the college is up and running but on Thursday, it was the occasion of sod turning and officially announce the construction of the college. The occasion was attended by the tribal chiefs and Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha who gave the project thumbs up and urged the community as well as the tribal authority to embrace the centre.

Board

The board comprises of Reggie Sibiya (Chairperson), Sibusiso Busane, Thandeka Ntshangase, Themba Mthembu, Mzimaseki Silimandlela, Lerato Mokhitli, David

Makua, Lucas Ramatlhodi, Ross Rayners, Margaret Bango, Zinhle Tyikwe, Nonkululeko Bogopa, ZibeleSokabo, Sebe Rasebitse and Tom Mkhwanazi,Chief Executive Officer.

The college is expected to usher in a facelift to the area with multiple developments in the college precinct where informal traders who are opening along the busy road leading to the town are expected to be housed in so the beauty of the college would not be obstructed y their makeshift structure that are mushrooming along the busy road.

 Some of the informal traders doing business on the road said they were willing to make way so that the beauty of the college should be there for all to see traveling along the busy road.

It’s a project that has seen R149 million invested where several practical courses are going to be offered to an estimated 4000 students.

 The Learning Programmes to be offered in the Centre, include amongst others:

● National Certificate: Animal Production;

● National Certificate: Poultry Production;

● National Certificate: Accommodation Services;

● National Certificate: Wholesale and Retail Operations: Chain Store Operations;

● National Certificate: Automotive Body Repair and Maintenance;

● Occupational Certificate: Boilermaker;

● Occupational Certificate: Fitter and Turner;

● Further Education and Training Certificate: Electrical Engineering; and the

● Occupational Certificate: Electrician.

 “ For sustainability, the project will train SMMEs through the incubation programme by the Sekhukhune TVET college with collaborations established with retailers to sell products produced from the Centre. 

“Additionally, the college plans to develop a multi-purpose centre and a hotel which will generate income for the Centre. Students will receive practical training and will be placed in the multi-purpose centre and the hotel as part an exit strategy,” Nzimande said.

The minister reminded villagers at the launch that it was their duty to protect the infrastructure as it was built within their community and was confident it was in good hands. He further reminded that as they protest for service delivery they should refrain from destroying such structures.