Elsenburg graduates ready for the job market

In December, 187 students graduated with qualifications ranging from certificates and diplomas in agriculture to Baccalaureus in Agriculture from Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute in Stellenbosch.

Minke Cloete, Tiaan Combrink, Lu-Ann Fischer, Johannes Huisamen, Sesona Mahlali, Anri Terblanche, Leandri van Niekerk and Michael Walsh were awarded the degree Baccalaureus in Agriculture cum laude, while Albertus van Zyl was awarded the Diploma in Agriculture cum laude. The Dux Awards went to Fischer in the B.Agric programme, Van Zyl in the Diploma programme and Teaura Desdemona Campbell in the Learnership programme.

Fischer also walked away with the National Wool Growers Association Award in Wool Production, as well as the Western Cape Branch of the South African Veterinary Association Awards for the Best Student in Animal Health in small stock and larger stock.

Special award in the Learnership programme went to Chulekaxi Xwasi for Animal Production, Zaakiyah Cader for Plant Production – Viticulture, and Campbell for Plant Production – Pomology.

Keynote speaker Prof William Gumede of the School of Governance at WITS urged students to develop a mindset that embraces opportunity. “Look at the world as a world of abundance, opportunities, and new things and not as a world of scarcity. The abundance might not always be evident, but it is there.”

He advised students to have their “personal board of directors”. “Have a purpose and seek out a group of people whom you can seek guidance from,” he said.

The Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, congratulated the students and said that “a skilled labour force is one of the key pillars of the Western Cape Growth for Jobs Strategy”.

“Elsenburg has been creating opportunities in agriculture for the youth for more than 125 years. It will continue to do so for many more years to come and enable the sector to contribute to the bold target set for 2035 where our economy is growing at between 4% and 6%.” –

SUPPLIED Western Cape agriculture minister Dr Ivan Meyer congratulates Lu-Ann Fischer, who received the Dux Award in the B. Agric Programme as well as the National Wool Growers Award in Wool Production and the Western Cape Branch of the South African Veterinary Association awards for the Best Student in Animal Health in small stock and larger stock.