Hospitality skills development gets a welcome boost

MEC for education unveils a skills development school in Thembisa.

The MEC (second from right) unveils the plaque at the Peermont-sponsored “hotel room classroom” with the school's principal, Steven Ngwane, Peermont Trustee Vusi Zwane and Emperors Palace's general manager Clive Tavener, during the MEC's visit. Photo: Yolanda van der Stoep

During a ceremony on July 26, Gauteng MEC for Education and Youth Development Panyaza Lesufi officially launched the Thembisa Commerce and Entrepreneurship School of Specialisation with a focus on hospitality and tourism.

Formerly known as Tembisa Secondary, it is the 17th school repositioned in the country that will concentrate on skills development and entrepreneurship.

To show its support, Emperors Palace established a simulated hotel room for teaching purposes (to the value of R300 000) at the school as part of the casino and resort’s Mandela Day initiatives.

In addition, the resort also announced an investment of R500 000 to the school to further the development of learners and teachers in the hospitality and tourism industry.

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Among the VIP guests in attendance at the special occasion were three former principals of Tembisa Secondary, Walter Seboni (1970 to 1977), Ralph Mothiba (1978 to 1997) and Teboho Tsenase (1998 to 2008). Here Seboni (front right), Tsenanse (back right) and Mothiba (back, third from right) are pictured with Peermont trustee Thembekile Makhoba (front) and, at the back, Emperors Palace’s general manager Clive Tavener, HR manager Tebogo Matlakola, Peermont Trust manager Makomane Ntabo and Peermont