Thabizimbi is home to state of the art TVET campus

LIMPOPO – THE Waterberg Technical Vocational Education and Training, (TVET) college celebrated youth month in style on June 21 when Dr Blade Nzimande, the minister of higher education and training, officially unveiled the commemorative plaque of the new state of the art Waterberg (TVET) college campus in Thabazimbi.

The Thabazimbi Campus, will open its doors to prospective students in and around Thabazimbi in the 2016 academic year.

Programs that will be offered will include electrical infrastructure, construction, boilermaking, fitter & turner, office administration, electrical engineering, engineering & related design (automotive), diesel mechanic, management assistant as well as business management.

Nzimande said “One of our major focuses is to bring institutions of higher education and training to areas that have historically been neglected, especially rural areas such as this one throughout the country and it is with a huge amount of pride that we open such an institution in Thabazimbi.

“Yes, we are well aware that employment opportunities are scarce and far between, and that this frustrates many. We therefore also call upon our youth to take it upon themselves – in a similar manner as the youth of 1976 – to actively seek out and participate in activities that build instead of waiting passively for help to come to them.”

Selaelo Lekoloane (Waterberg TVET college principal) said; “Waterberg TVET college is very greatful that we are given the mandate to run this state of the art Thabazimbi campus.

“We commit ourselves to look after it and provide relevant technical and vocational skills required for the young and people in Thabazimbi and the surrounding villages to find jobs in the local mines and businesses.

“We have to utilise this massive facility at the Thabazimbi campus and therefore the campus cannot afford to close at 15:00, we will have to implement occupational programs and qualifications and extend their teaching and learning hours to 21:00 in order to accommodate those who would want to attend classes only after work,” Lekoloane said.

The college council chairperson, Prof Lesiba Teffo, assured the minister and everyone present that the College will work hard to produce good results that will complement the state of the art campus entrusted to the college.

Mayor Patricia Mosito of the Thabazimbi Municipality expressed her gratitude and commended the minister and his department for bringing the TVET college to a community that was in dire need of a higher learning institution.