The Mayor of Maruleng Local Municipality, Cllr Tsheko Musolwa, has called for the urgent establishment of a satellite campus of Letaba TVET College in Maruleng to expand access to post-school education, vocational training and skills-development opportunities for young people and residents across the municipality.
Mayor Musolwa made the call during a high-level engagement with the management of Letaba TVET College, where he was accompanied by the Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Lesley Muroa, and the Director of Spatial Planning and Economic Development, Mr Amos Matjiya. The meeting focused on reviewing progress and discussing practical steps towards the establishment of a satellite campus within Maruleng Local Municipality.
The engagement forms part of the Municipality’s ongoing efforts to bring institutions of higher and vocational education closer to local communities. The Municipality believes that access to quality post-school education and technical training is critical to addressing unemployment, closing existing skills gaps and creating opportunities for sustainable economic participation among young people.
During the meeting, Mayor Musolwa appealed to the management of Letaba TVET College to prioritise and fast-track the establishment of a fully fledged satellite campus in Maruleng. He emphasised that such an institution would play a significant role in equipping young people with practical, technical and entrepreneurial skills that are relevant to the needs of the local economy and the broader regional labour market.
Mayor Musolwa noted that Maruleng remains among the areas in the province that do not have a dedicated TVET institution within close proximity to its communities. This situation presents significant challenges for young people who wish to pursue vocational education and skills training, particularly those who face financial and logistical difficulties associated with travelling long distances to access educational institutions.
“The establishment of a satellite campus is important for our young people and the future growth of our local economy. We want young people from Maruleng to access quality education and training closer to home while acquiring skills that respond directly to available economic opportunities,” said Mayor Musolwa.
The Mayor further highlighted the potential of the proposed campus to contribute to the development of a skilled local workforce capable of supporting key sectors of the economy. He said that by providing relevant training programmes, the campus could help young people gain qualifications and competencies that improve their employability while also encouraging entrepreneurship and self-employment.
In support of the initiative, the Municipality will engage with the traditional leadership and other relevant stakeholders to identify and secure suitable land for the construction of the proposed campus. One of the areas being considered is land situated next to the Calvin Louis Moagi Sports Complex, which could provide a strategic and accessible location for the development of the facility.
The proposed campus is expected to benefit not only learners and young people from Maruleng but also surrounding communities by reducing the distance and cost associated with accessing technical and vocational education. It would also create opportunities for collaboration between the Municipality, the TVET College, local businesses, community structures and other stakeholders in developing training programmes that are responsive to local economic needs.
Mayor Musolwa further emphasised that the proposed satellite campus is aligned with Government’s broader efforts to expand access to post-school education and training and to ensure that young people are equipped with practical skills that enable them to participate meaningfully in the economy.
He said the Municipality remains committed to working closely with Letaba TVET College, traditional leaders, government departments, community stakeholders and the private sector to ensure that the project moves from discussions to implementation.
“We must create an environment where our young people do not have to leave Maruleng simply because they cannot access quality technical and vocational education in their own community. Bringing training opportunities closer to our people will strengthen our skills base, support local economic development and contribute towards building a more productive and self-sufficient generation,” added Mayor Musolwa.
Letaba TVET College Principal, Mr Pule Patrick Mashele, welcomed the Mayor’s intervention and reaffirmed the College’s commitment to continued engagement with Maruleng Local Municipality. He acknowledged the importance of bringing vocational education closer to communities and indicated that the College is committed to working with the Municipality to explore ways of fast-tracking the establishment of the satellite campus.
The Municipality and Letaba TVET College agreed that continued cooperation and stakeholder engagement will be essential in taking the initiative forward. The establishment of the satellite campus is viewed as an important investment in the future of Maruleng’s youth and a potential catalyst for skills development, employment creation, entrepreneurship and long-term local economic growth.
Maruleng Local Municipality remains committed to advancing initiatives that place education, skills development and economic empowerment at the centre of its development agenda, with the ultimate objective of creating greater opportunities for residents and building a skilled and economically active community.
