As the unemployment rate continues to skyrocket, Seotlong Agricultural and Hotel School has created employment for hundreds of residents.
Based in Phuthaditjhaba, Qwa Qwa in the Free State the school, which has a 130-hectare farm where learners are taken through rigorous practical training in, among others, harvesting and sheep herding, is breeding the next generation of commercial farmers.
The school has helped create jobs for residents living near its premises through its agricultural programme.
Poppy Selepe, one of the people who has benefited from the programme, said it has afforded her much-needed work.
“The school has created job opportunities for many of us within this community. It hires seasonal workers and this time they chose 100 people from the community to assist with removing weed around the soya beans, as well as to harvest them,” said Selepe.
The 49-year-old noted that during the time of her employment, she was able to pay for her child’s school fees and put bread on the table.
School principal Lekhotla Mohapi said the youth must be encouraged to participate in agriculture as, not only does it ensure food security for the country, but importantly, it is a lucrative business and they can make a good living out of it.
“We are proud of the work we are doing. The school is developing future crop and cattle farmers. We are also creating employment opportunities for people in our community who assist with removing weeds around the soya beans, as well as harvesting them,” said Mohapi.
Howard Ndaba, Free State department of education, noted that through this the school has managed to capture the attention of reputable companies. Since 2021, the school has been selling its produce (spinach) to BiBi Cash and Carry.
“Moeketsi Mofokeng, BiBi Cash and Carry’s manager in the food and vegetable department commended the school on their amazing batch of spinach. The school also supplies fast-food outlets such as Wimpy and Shell petrol stations in QwaQwa with 18 crates worth of eggs,” said Ndaba.
One of the teachers contributing to the school’s success is farm manager Benjamin Nhlapo, a vibrant 59-year-old agriculture educator with 31 years of teaching experience.
Nhlapho teaches agricultural management practices and agricultural technology to grade 10 to 12 learners.
He holds a diploma in agriculture, management and marketing and has attended courses in sheep farming, broiler and layer management, as well as organic farming for vegetables.
“The school also boasts a professional hospitality section that provides catering services to outsiders using crops from their own farm.
“Both theoretical and practical evaluation assignments are a part of the training and educational procedures in hospitality studies,” said Ndaba.
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.
