Call for upgrade of TVET colleges
Eastern Cape ANC chair Oscar Mabuyane was in full campaign mode this weekend with a laundry list of promises to students and Luthuli House.
Mabuyane started his campaign trail at a Sasco provincial rally were he called for TVET colleges to receive the same status as universities.
Addressing students, Mabuyane criticised government, saying TVET colleges lacked support and infrastructure. He identified Buffalo City College as one of the colleges in the worst state of need.
“We need to ensure access and success in institutions of higher learning and training. The success of those who access TVET colleges, relies heavily on adequate support.
“When we visited institutions of higher learning and training during the recent open voter registration weekend, I witnessed the most appalling conditions at the Buffalo City College in East London.”
Mabuyane said while government’s focus has been on higher education, inadequate attention was paid to the training sector.
“TVET colleges are seen as a fallback option if one fails to secure a spot in higher education institutions. This must stop. Working together, we must ensure TVET colleges are institutions of choice and make sure they respond to the issues facing our society.”
At the launch of the ANC provincial manifesto in Mount Frere on Saturday, Mabuyane promised party treasurer-general Paul Mashatile, who was on the podium, a landslide victory in the province.
In his address, Mabuyane said the ruling party was the only organisation capable of reversing the legacy of colonial and apartheid history.
“As the Eastern Cape, we are ranked third in terms of the highest number of registered voters after Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. We managed to register 3,361,991 eligible voters and strive to increase that number by making use of the opportunity still with us before the proclamation of the [May 8] election date by the president.
“We are confident that the overwhelming majority of the 3.3 million registered voters in the province will vote for the ANC,” he told Mashatile.