Ehlanzeni TVET College boasts new tourism and hospitality centre in Mashishing

The Ehlanzeni TVET College, under the stewardship of college principal Elias Mbuyane, continues to break new ground and change the face of TVET colleges.
This became evident when the college officially launched the state-of-the-art tourism and hospitality centre in Mashishing on Friday April 19.

The college, which has just introduced a hospitality and tourism course, will utilise this newly acquired guest house for its students to undertake practical work so they are armed with both theory and practicals.

“We are seeing real work here and not just speeches. This is absolutely amazing,” said the director general for the Department of Education, Dr Nkosinathi Sishi, during his keynote address. “This does not need to be said in so many words, but through looking at this facility. We are not here to tell long stories of what we think we have done and achieved, but we can show that. We don’t have to explain what you see here. Just walk around and look, and you will see it, and that’s what’s important, not only to me, but to our communities at large, because this investment you have made here speaks to young and old differently.

“This TVET college and this facility tell a story about a country that cares about our children’s education. It tells a story to the poor, the rich, the peasant, the farmer, the industrialist, business community and everyone else, particularly the tourism industry. This has now become the flagship programme of which all of us must be proud.”

ALSO READ: Minister of health opens centre in Balfour worth millions

Sishi said the college’s vision to have such an establishment serves as an inspiration to the rest of the country. “The tourism and hospitality sectors are vital components of our economy. Tourism and hospitality contribute significantly to job creation and economic growth. Mpumalanga is, without any doubt, one of the best tourist destinations in the country, and to come here today to unveil one of our newest jewels in the tourism industry is an inspiration to the rest of the country and TVET colleges. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of global tourism, it is imperative that we equip our students with the knowledge, skills and experience needed to excel in this dynamic industry. It is correct that if we are serious about dealing with the issue of unemployment in the country, we need to do better,” he said.

Sishi commended Mbuyane for his work to improve and making colleges and education fashionable.

“Mbuyane is a humble public servant who has an interest in nation-building, and we are very proud to have someone like him. We wish him well, and we know he is going to continue doing even greater things for this community. And I want to commit that the department will also continue to support him and this college,” committed Sishi.

Since taking over as the institution’s principal, Mbuyane, a known visionary, has not only managed to transform the Ehlanzeni TVET College, but has also made college education fashionable, especially among young people who had in the past preferred university education over TVETs.

ALSO READ: Lifestyle motor club donates school shoes to learners outside KaBokweni

Both the executive mayor of Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, Friddah Nkadimeng, and the Mpumalanga Legislature speaker, Makhosazane Masilela, applauded the college’s move to acquire the guest house for the benefit of their students.