In the midst of challenges especially lack of jobs, Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Nandi Ndalane says those challenged can create their own future.
“The best way to predict your future is to create it,” she indicated while quoting the former American President Abraham Lincoln during the celebration of both 2020 and 2021 Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture (TSCA) graduations in Polokwane on 26 November 2021.
In this connection, she said, “The lack of jobs in our province remains one of our challenges in our developmental agenda. What worries us the most is that majority of those who are affected by the lack of jobs are young people. Many of these young people are graduates who have been produced by our institutions of higher learning. This is indeed a serious challenge. As government, we have prioritised addressing this problem in order to avoid instability in our country as a result of spiraling out of control of youth unemployment.”
However, in her view, the Agricultural sector has better opportunities for the unemployed youth including graduates. “We know that with Agriculture there are plenty of job opportunities and working together with established Agriculture entities we are able provide our graduates with job placements. We will continue to strength our relationship with these entities so that those who require work experience are able to be provided with such opportunities. I have no doubt that all of you graduates are destined to greater heights,” highlighted the MEC.
Ndalane believed that the obtained Animal and Plant Production diplomas would help the graduates find jobs. With their qualification, they would be either employed or employers if they established their own enterprises.
This was also the vision of the TSCA Principal, Lesley Mashiloane who said the qualification had opened doors for the graduates in research, business, academic etc. The graduations could not be held on the expected periods due to COVID-19 restrictions then, and hence the celebration
