Johannesburg – A vision by a man of humble beginnings, Gonnafela Letlole, has resulted in the first 100% black-owned technical and vocational education and training college, Gonnafela Letlole Academy (GLA), in the rural Mmametlhake village, Mpumalanga, which opened in February this year.
Students who are enrolled for business management, financial management, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering at GLA have already written their first semester exams. Letlole – a businessman and academic who describes himself as a township boy from Tlhabane township, Rustenburg – has qualifications in architecture, facilities management, education and training, IT and project management.
The 57-year-old has worked for the Tshwane University of Technology as head of department for corporative education.
He said during his master’s research he found that historically disadvantaged individuals, particularly in the rural areas, didn’t have easy access to higher education and training, and they failed to move to cities largely because of poverty.
Letlole said the nearest TVET college from GLA is almost 80km away.
At GLA, students are also given free meals, depending on donations received, and they can walk to campus. Saturday classes are also offered to assist grade 12 pupils.
Letlole said some community members have also come on board and offered to rent their rooms for students needing accommodation.
They also volunteered in the building of the institution.
As owner of Letlole GG Group, which is involved in the built environment, Letlole said they identified Mmametlhake village because there was land available and it was perfect for their vision.
“We obtained the use of the Mmametlhake campus from Bakgatla Tribal Council. Renovated the vandalised old and unused school building,” said Letlole. He said the college received its accreditation late last year and was registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training as an examination centre as well as with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).
Tshepo Mokono, the deputy director for marketing and communication at QCTO confirmed that the institution is accredited to offer national certificate courses N4, N5 and N6 in human resources management, financial management, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.
The Mmametlhake campus can accommodate a maximum of 1 200 students.
Also read: Universities called to verify student information to access laptops
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here.
Sunday World
