COLLABORATION IS KEY – THE MQA AND THE W&R SETA PARTNER TO UPLIFT THE SEKHUKHUNE COMMUNITY

The Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA), the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in collaboration with the Wholesale and Retail (W&R) SETA, hosted a stakeholder support/Pledge Forum, on 27 January 2023, at the newly built Sekhukhune TVET College Skills Development Centre in Groblersdal.

The main objective of the Support/Pledge Forum was the response by the MQA to the call made by the Sekhukhune TVET College to the MQA to support the further construction of the skills development centre as part of the organisation’s ongoing efforts to support community-based initiatives. The MQA was requested to make a call to the mining and minerals sector to support the completion of the R131 million Skills Centre Project, that was already funded by the W&R SETA.

The Principal of Sekhukhune TVET College, Mr Tebogo Kekana, delivered the opening address and warmly welcomed all the guests who attended the important proceedings. He highlighted his excitement concerning the developing skills centre, which is incomplete but shows great progress because of the W&R SETA’s intervention. According to Mr Kekana, the skills centre is structured in three workshop phases to transfer tourism, agriculture and mining engineering skills to the local community members. He also shared inspiring planned goals for the skills centre with the guests.

Mr Tom Mkhwanazi, the CEO of W&R SETA, provided an overview of how the R131 million project was initiated, which was anticipated for completion by 2025. However, the project is advancing at a rate well ahead of schedule. This project was initiated by the Minister of the Department of Higher Training and Training (DHET) in October 2021. The lack of training facilities to produce artisans in Limpopo was identified as one of the challenges and the reason for the college’s request for infrastructure support.

For the undertaking above, the MQA CEO, Dr Thabo Mashongoane, pleaded with the attending guests to pledge and support the Sekhukhune TVET College Skills Development Centre. An opportunity to respond to the call made by Dr Mashongoane to the attending stakeholders was granted, and all the stakeholders responded positively to the call.

The delegation from the Bapedi Kingdom also graced the event with representatives from various mining companies, including Two Rivers, Northam Boysendal, Implants, the office of the Limpopo Premier, and Sekhukhune District Municipality.