The North West MEC for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Mr Boitumelo Tshwene says reports doing the rounds about the anticipated transfer of Potchefstroom College of Agriculture to be under the administration of North West University (NWU)’s Potchefstroom Campus are not a true reflection of the discussion held with the University, and do not represent well the worthwhile plans government has about Colleges of Agriculture in the country.
While the department acknowledges the fact that it was approached by the management of the NWU about the possible merger of the two renowned institutions of higher learning, Potchefstroom College of Agriculture and the NWU, the department wants to put it on record that it has got no intentions whatsoever, to merge with or transfer any of the two Colleges of Agriculture to the NWU.
And as MEC Tshwene puts it, this is the position the department assertively conveyed to the University during a meeting held about the possibility of the “merger”; a position which the university management understood and took well.
MEC Tshwene says his department is committed to supporting the process of transforming the 12 Colleges of Agriculture into national Agricultural Training Institutes (ATIs) as pronounced by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, during her recent tabling of the budget vote speech.
Joemat-Petterssonsaid for the 2011/12 financial year, R50 million has been made available to the 12 Colleges of Agriculture, Potchefstroom college included, which will be utilised to address the gaps identified through the audit that was conducted, which looked comprehensively at the state of infrastructure at these institutions, the academic and skills training programmes offered, their accreditation status, the governance structures and the financial and logistical systems in place.
The Minister’s statement corroborated what MEC Tshwene said two months ago about the two Colleges in the North West province, when he said his department will this financial year focus more on infrastructure improvement as well as obtaining accreditation for these institutions.
Tshwene says he holds with high esteem the mutual partnership the department has cultivated with the University in that this institution continues to provide strategic and technical oversight in the implementation of the North West Nguni Cattle Development Project and the Agricultural Master Plan, saying “these ignorant rumours will not in any way unsettle the existing relationship between government and its stakeholders”.
Enquiries:
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Tel: 018 389 5719
Cell: 082 901 2435
E-mail: bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
Source: North West Agriculture and Rural Development
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development refutes reports about the expected merger of NWU - Potch Campus with the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture
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