and hospitality space. An accredited public post-school institution, operating under the auspices of the Department of Higher Education Science and Innovation (DHESI), in line with the Continuing Education Act 16 of 2006, as amended, Mopani TVET College operates within diverse communities and has two campuses, namely, Phalaborwa Campus (in Phalaborwa) and Sir Val Duncan Campus (in Namakgale township).
then as the Acting Principal at what was then known as Mopani South East FET College. In 2016, he was then officially appointed as Mopani TVET College’s Principal.
Dr Baloyi’s journey in the education sector has touched almost everyone who believes in the importance of education. He was once a primary school mathematics and science teacher, moved to high schools within Limpopo Province teaching the same subjects in different districts - before joining the local NGO (Palabora Foundation) as a Technology part-time facilitator. He also taught the Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) at JCI Mining Company.
Touching on his leadership skills, Dr Baloyi described his leadership style as that of an attuned leader. “I firmly believe in the African concept of Ubuntu. I am because of others. I subscribe to that. I remain ethical and morally grounded, irrespective of the situation and/or the circumstances. I always ensure that I sympathise with people that are in need. But I strongly hate to be undermined or to undermine anyone else,” he says. Having worked with different feeder schools, Dr Baloyi said there’s nothing that makes him more proud and content than witnessing these young people who came to this TVET institution being clueless about the TVET world and thereafter graduating with qualifications that contribute to the economic development of the country.
He then moved to the Technical College as a lecturer in both Electrical and Industrial Electronics in Limpopo Province, promoted to the position of an HOD at Nkangala TVET College’s Witbank Campus before becoming a Campus Manager at Mapulaneng Campus (at Ehlanzeni TVET College). Later on, Dr Baloyi joined the Limpopo Province’s FET College branch as a DCES responsible for electrical engineering programmes before he was appointed as the Deputy Principal Academic Services and
“As the Principal of a TVET College of this magnitude, I take pride in seeing the youngsters coming from the deep rural areas with different backgrounds, who had no clue about the TVET Programme offerings but converted into qualified and competent artisans, engineers, and professionals in different fields. That makes me happy. Money is something else and, yes, we all need it in order to survive, but witnessing them progressing in their lives gives peace of mind. I feel extremely great to notice
that as an institution of higher learning we contributed towards changing their livelihood for the better,” he says. Touching on what he emphasised as an erroneous perception that many South African people have regarding the TVET Colleges, Dr Baloyi said he’s concerned that this country is missing the key point about the importance of TVET education. “The old and recurring perception that the TVET education system is for those who cannot do well academically and therefore it is meant for those who are good with their hands is completely wrong and unfounded. Look around wherever you are now, the chair that you are sitting on, the table that you are using, almost everything in and around that building, and this building, our roads, any infrastructure, the list is endless, is basically in one way or the other through the hands of either the artisans, technicians and other people who are the product of the TVET Colleges. “I'll be incorrect to rule out the importance of other soft skills or qualifications, what’s crucial here is that the TVET College sector on its own, given a chance, with functional and mutual partnerships with relevant industry, is the key to the growth of the dwindling economy. The TVET College sector is pivotal in driving the economic growth of this country. Put simply, the entire economy of any country relies on the youngsters who are committed to their education.”
Public Sector Leaders | July 2022 | 17