uMfolozi welcomes donation from ZEST

It was a day of jubilation for uMfolozi TVET College as the Zest WEG Group donated various Switchgear, Variable Speed Drives & Motor Spares worth over R200 000 on Friday, 3 August 2018. The ZEST WEG Group specializes in offering products from single product installations to individually customized solutions which are application specific and use the latest technology to ensure optimum performance and reliability without compromising energy efficiency.

ZEST Branch Manager, Jacky Almond said, “We believe that our longevity in our market starts with our youth. Education is therefore the key in our industry and our commitment to this is demonstrative of the donation we extended to uMfolozi College. We have been in this area as a branch for 20-years and have been privy on the quality of apprenticeships that uMfolozi have produced, it is for this reason that we chose uMfolozi College as a recipient of our donation. Our service offerings are world class, and we believe that uMfolozi produces the same class of apprentices.”

According to Almond, ZEST would like to strategically partner with the College by providing refresher training to training officers and to further demonstrate their products to students. “We thank uMfolozi College for their valued contribution to the electrical industry by providing high class education in this field to our youth. We applaud the manner in which our donation was received,” added Almond.

College Deputy Principal: Academic Services, Elsie du Toit thanked ZEST for their donation to the College which will be well utilized by the engineering students. “We look forward to a fruitful partnership with the ZEST, there’s always something new to learn from each partnership and this helps us to improve teaching and learning. We also have our doors open to more partnerships as we are focused in up -skilling the youth,” concluded du Toit.

College Manager in Artisan Development, Wimpie Britz said, “This donation is sincerely appreciated and serves as proof that relevant industry and public College partnerships will improve the quality and relevance of artisan training in the country. The donated equipment will be used within the various training facilities of the College.”

‘It’s cool to study in a TVET College’ –Manamela

The Department of Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Honourable Buti Manamela attended the 5^th TVET Month Launch at uMfolozi TVET College, Esikhawini Campus on Wednesday, 1 August 2018.

In his speech, while addressing about 1500 high school learners from uMhlathuze Municipality he said it’s cool to study in a TVET College and to learn complex programmes. Manamela said that his department was working tirelessly to correct the misconception that TVET Colleges are secondary institutions.

“Those days are gone when Colleges were not taken seriously. Not only do they offer practical programmes, but they have the potential of linking students with industries. Colleges have improved their education programmes. Not only do students obtain valuable practical experience, they have huge potential of starting their own businesses once they receive their qualifications.”

“My department’s vision is to see more young people get into the technical, vocational education and training stream in order to speedily grow the economy of the country and thereby reducing the high unemployment rate,” said Manamela.

Manamela stressed that the launch took place during Women’s Month and said, “There was a time when we regarded the trades and technical vocations such as construction, engineering, welding, fitting and turning as men’s work. Thousands of young women enter the trades in South Africa. We support and encourage this and want to see even more women enter the trades.”

The DM, accompanied by DHET officials, College Management and learners went on to visit the different exhibition stands where KZN TVET Colleges and various SETAs were stationed to provide more insight on their programmes.