Shukela Training Centre Graduation Ceremony: A Celebration of Excellence and Achievement

Thami Mathe

Recently, the Shukela Training Centre (STC) hosted a grand graduation ceremony, marking a significant milestone in the lives of recently qualified students. The ceremony was a grand celebration of excellence and achievement, as students from the Agricultural, Electrical and Mechanical departments donned their gowns to receive their hard-earned recognition. 

The momentous occasion was honoured by the presence of the Deputy Director General for Skills Development in the Department of Higher Education and Training, Mr Zukile Mvalo. Mr Mvalo was the guest speaker for the day. His speech resonated very well with young graduates who are at the beginning of their career journey. Mr Mvalo emphasized that success is no accident but hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all love of what one is doing, quoting the legendary Pele’. The occasion was filled with excitement, pride and joy. The atmosphere was electrifying, as family, friends, host company representatives, STC Committee members, STC Management and staff gathered to witness the culmination of the students’ hard work and dedication. The ceremony was a testament to the students’ perseverance and commitment to their training.

Above: SASA Executive Director, Sifiso Mhlaba, delivering a welcome address.

Above: DHET Deputy Director General, Zukile Mvalo, delivering the keynote address.

Graduating students comprised five students in National Certificate: Plant Production NQF Level 4, 109 students in various Electrical trades and 126 students in various Mechanical trades. Fifty of the Mechanical students that were graduating were the product of the Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) Project that STC is currently doing together with its Joint Venture partner, Iyanda Holdings, for the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA). The project seeks to conduct ARPL assessments to 600 young people across the country leading to a trade test and qualification as artisans. 

Above: STC General Manager, Thami Mathe presenting the closing remarks, 

During the ceremony, one of the technical training officers, Tab Khambule, received a recognition award for excellence in training and motivating students from a learner he trained, and trade tested twenty years ago. The learner is Victor Khoza, Khoza qualified at STC as an electrician and furthered his studies to the point of obtaining a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree and is now the Human Resource Executive at Rainbow Chicken. This presentation symbolised exactly what Mvalo was talking about in his keynote address, that is, life long learning.

Thami Mathe  is General Manager at STC