Thembisile Hani — The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) says the Department of Higher Education remains silent on their call for the establishment of a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) campus in Thembisile Hani Local Municipality.
YCLSA Ephriam Mogale District Secretary Lehlohonolo Maphoto said many young people in the municipality have been forced to travel long distances to access higher education at institutions such as CN Mahlangu, Witbank TVET College or colleges in Gauteng.
“It makes sense for a learner who has just completed matric to travel less than 20 kilometres to study at a local institution, instead of travelling long distances daily,” Maphoto said. “Currently, students have to find accommodation far from home, pay rent and cover additional costs like food and transport, which is difficult for many families who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Maphoto acknowledged that a private institution could also benefit the area, he stressed that YCLSA specifically advocates for a public college to ensure accessibility for students from poor backgrounds who rely on NSFAS and other state support.
The YCLSA submitted a memorandum to the Department of Higher Education on 26 May 2025, but no response has been given to date. “The presence of a TVET campus would create jobs and support small businesses,” Maphoto explained. “Transport operators, accommodation providers and local hawkers would all benefit. It would also open opportunities for unemployed teachers and artisans to be employed as lecturers or contractors.”
Local resident Thabiso Skosana from Phumula said the initiative would bring hope to young people like him who are unable to further their studies due to financial constraints.
“I can’t attend other colleges because they are too far and NSFAS has been giving me problems,” Skosana said. “My parents can’t afford rent or other living costs, so I had to give up studying and find a job in retail to save money for education which is supposed to be free. But even that is difficult because I also have to help support my family, and our salaries are very low.”
Skhosana said a TVET campus would change many lives in the community. “This college will benefit a lot of us here in Thembisile Hani,” Skosana said. “It will give us a chance to study close to home and build a better future.”
Maphoto said several government departments including Higher Education, Basic Education, Public Works, and the local municipality own underutilised buildings in the area that could be repurposed for the project if they collaborated.
“The department must prioritise this long-standing call,” he said. “A TVET campus in Thembisile Hani will not only improve access to education but also uplift the community, reduce unemployment and ease the financial strain on families.”
Lucky Masuku from the Department of Higher Education and Training explained that both the department’s and the National Treasury’s budgets are already under significant pressure. He added that many TVET colleges are currently facing maintenance challenges, which makes it difficult to expand college infrastructure due to limited financial resources.
Highveld Chronicle also contacted the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality on 04 November 2025 and followed up again on 06 November. The municipality said the municipal manager still needed to review the answers. We reached out again on 10 and 11 November 2025, but nothing. Eventually, we were told the delay was caused by the Provincial Education Department (PEDS) manager.
