Taletso TVET College Congratulations to the Gold Medal Winner, The Best Mzanzi Student In CAD!

Under the supervision and mentorship of one of the most dedicated and passionate lecturers at Taletso TVET College, Mr. Collins Ngomane, Rebecca “Becca” Tshuma has become the CAD Gold Medal Winner in the National WorldSkills Competition.

Born and bred in the Khuma (Stilfontein) location, “Becca”, as known to her friends, started the competition from provincial preliminary levels in Brits, Rustenburg, in 2021. She went through to the nationals in Durban, held her first position, and won gold - this after vigorous skills tests and competitions in CAD-Computer Aided Design. Becca will be going on to represent South Africa internationally in October 2022 in France.

Tshuma is a go-getter and graduate who received numerous distinctions in her academic record and is an SRC academic officer at Mafikeng Campus. Her ambition is to be a great example to the young black child, and show them that an African child can achieve and live up to his/her dreams. She maintains that her journey will not stop after the WorldSkills competition, she wants to start something for herself, saying that there is no limit to any career be it mechanical, or any other field of study one may choose to follow. The 2022 WSZA National Competition, hosted under the theme “It’s Cool to be a 21st Century Artisan”, was incorporated into a two-day WSZA Conference at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre hosted parallel to the National Competition.

The conference was strategically used as a launching pad for the National Apprenticeship and Artisan Development Strategy 2030 which is in its final stages of being promulgated by the DHET.

The WSZA National Competition also incorporated the National Artisan Development Career Festival which was hosted in different selected districts of the KwaZulu-Natal province. The career festival aimed to reduce, among others, the stigma related to artisan careers, and to provide information on artisan careers and possible career projections.

The winners at the National Competition will get an opportunity to represent the country at the WorldSkills International Competition in France, to compete in different skills areas covering different disciplines. i.e. Construction and Building Technology; Manufacturing and Engineering Technology; Information and Communications; Social and Personal Services; Creative Arts and Fashion; and Transportation and Logistics, among others.

The 46th WorldSkills International Competition hosted in France, will feature over 1600 competitors from more than 60 countries and regions, competing in over 63 skills. The WorldSkills competitions create a global platform to develop and help young people who want to change their lives and affords them the opportunity of improving the fortunes of their communities and societies.

WHICH SCHOOL DID YOU GO TO?

I started my journey in Hata-Butle Primary School, then later went to Borakanelo Secondary School, a school well known for its excellent academic record in a small township of Khuma (Stilfontein).

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO FOLLOW MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND EVENTUALLY CAD?

Growing up I always wanted to be an engineer, but the question was which type of an engineer, and what did I exactly want to specialise in? Even when I was about to apply to a college I was still unsure, then it happened that there was this unique course in NCV called Engineering and Related Design. Even the name itself tells you it’s very versatile and vast, by then I knew exactly what I wanted and made up my mind and then enrolled for it.

Growing up we were never educated about different professions other than being a teacher, doctor, lawyer, etc. so, as a child I was very curious to know and learn more, that's where I was inspired to do something different, different from what we were taught, and do something unique from the rest.

Mechanical Engineering is known as the mother of engineering, it was present from the dawn of human civilization, from the cell phone you are holding now, to a building you are in, everything is purely Mechanical Engineering.

It's always challenging getting to learn new things, you stumble a bit at first and it's so frustrating when you fail to get it right at first, but with the love I had for learning the programme, I became patient with myself. It was not smooth sailing at all and I encountered many bumps along the way, I however remain proud of myself for persevering through CAD.

In the future I hope to improve my CAD skills by learning more of the functions, there is a whole library of tools that I have yet to learn and I want to push myself to be the best that I can be. I can't wait to use CAD in my future designs as a Mechanical Engineer, whether for simple

HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF COMPETING NATIONALLY IN DURBAN?

Being my first time participating in a competition, it was a very wonderful experience. I acquired many new and useful CAD skills also not forgetting to have a good time along the way.

The competition provided an opportunity to showcase our Artisan Trades Skills (ATS). I became part of the WorldSkills ZA competition by the encouragement of my mentor Mr. Collins Ngomane, who has always been there for me, to enlighten me with all the knowledge I needed to showcase my skills and how much I could learn and benefit from the exposure of participating in such a competition.

It was a blessing and an opportunity of a lifetime to compete in the nationals. The pressure was intense as only one competitor per skill would be chosen to represent South Africa in the International WorldSkills Competition. As professional as the competition was, we had experts and our mentors to bring out the best in us and guide us.

We had the opportunity to get to know other competitors from other skill areas, who were very friendly, and I got the opportunity to get exposure to their skill categories. I was able to establish new relationships which I hope will help me as time goes by.

Technically, the projects that were chosen allowed me to showcase all the skills I have been working hard on. I gained more experience, in how to approach certain challenges and manage my time, it has also encouraged me to adopt innovative techniques and develop ideas and skills and most importantly it played a big role in building my self-confidence.

THE COLLEGE LAUNCHES AN AUTOMATED BROILER FACILITY

On the 20th September 2021 the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in partnership with the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (DHESIT), through Taletso College, saw the college’s Lichtenburg Campus Farm and local community being awarded a state-of-the-art Automated Broiler facility. The initiative culminated into months of preparation leading towards the much anticipated and successful hand-over ceremony.

In attendance were, the Deputy Minister of DHET Mr. Buti Manamela, MEC for Basic Education Ms. Wendy Matsemela (NWPG), Head of Corporate Affairs from the IDC Mr. Tsepo Ramodibe, Chairperson of the AgriSeta Board Ms. Sharon Sepeng, DHET Regional Manager Dr Nick Balkrishen, Chairperson of Taletso TVET College Ms. Nomvuko Nomnga, Acting Principal of Taletso TVET College Mr. Moeti Nkomo, and VIPs of the day who were agriculture

Deputy Minister of DHET: Mr. Buti Manamela

Acting Principal of Taletso TVET College: Mr. Moeti Nkomo

Development Innovation Manager: Mr. Sello Musi

students from Lichtenburg Campus lead by Mr. Moeng, a lecturer at the campus, as well as members of the community represented by the municipality officials.

In his delivery, the Deputy Minister went on to highlight the importance of partnerships and community-based projects in the form of Incubation Programmes, he believes that both students and lecturers will benefit greatly.

He went on to express how he wished that the beneficiaries would not only be ready for the job-market but equally use the skills and training acquired to start their own businesses and be selfsufficient and contribute meaningfully towards the localised economy sectors without limitations. The message of excitement and renewed hope towards the development and empowerment of our youth was in the air across speakers of the day.

Kgosi Jeffery Montshioa pledged land towards rural development for more similar initiatives to be realized in various communities across the region and province.

The Project Leader and Business Development Innovation Manager Mr. Sello Musi was ecstatic about the automated broiler house and office facilities that was launched and believes there will be great spin-offs which will expose Taletso TVET students who are doing Primary Agriculture to the modern technology used in the poultry industry currently. He continued to state that students would hit the ground running when they either got employed in the commercial industry, or, start their own businesses in poultry farming. Mr Musi said that the College would also look into training unemployed youth on accredited poultry qualifications with AgriSeta and that the staff and the students at AgriSeta have all shown an interest in the facility.

A further benefit to the College is that the chickens will become a source of income for the college on a continuous six (6) week cycle.

The proceeds will be used for the maintenance of the facility and the farm in general. Mr Musi stated that he envisaged roping in big hatchery industry through their social responsibility activity and mandate them to donate chickens to the college so that they are trained and readied for the industry.

He further continued to say that Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) would be the order of the day and that the College would be working together with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for the slaughtering of chickens at the Kgora Training Centre abattoir in Mahikeng (Ramatlabana).

Central Office

Tel: +27 (0) 18 384 2346/ 50 Fax: +27 (0) 18 384 7511 Email: info@taletsofetcollege.co.za Website: www.taletso.edu.za Adress: 761-762 Setlogelo Dr, Montshiwa Unit 2, Mahikeng, 2790