Another crop of students graduate from Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute

On Saturday, 2 December 2023, one hundred and eighty-seven (187) students graduated with qualifications ranging from Certificates and Diplomas in Agriculture to Baccalaureus in Agriculture from the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute (EATI) in Stellenbosch.

Minke Cloete, Tiaan Combrink, Lu-Ann Fisher, Johannes Huisamen, Sesona Mahlali, Anri Terblanche, Leandri van Niekerk and Michael Walsh were awarded the degree Baccalaureus in Agriculture cum laude.

Albertus van Zyl was awarded the Diploma in Agriculture cum laude.

Dux Awards went to:

• Learnership Programme: Teaura Desdemona Campbell;
• Diploma Programme: Albertus Hermias van Zyl; and
• B. Agric Programme: Lu-Ann Fischer.

Cum Laude student Lu-Ann Fischer from Porterville also received the National Wool Growers Association award in Wool Production, the Western Cape Branch of the South African Veterinary Association Award for Best Student in Animal Health (Small Stock) and Best Student in Animal Health (Large Stock).

Special awards in the Learnership Programme went to:

• Chulekazi Xwazi: Animal Production
• Zaakiyah Cader: Plant Production Viticulture and
• Teaura Desdemona Campbell: Plant Production – Pomolgy

Congratulating students Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, said, "I congratulate you on behalf of the Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, the Western Cape Government, the Council of the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute led by Professor Danie Brink, and the people of the Western Cape. You are the future of agriculture in our province."

Minister Meyer said, "We must express our gratitude to parents for their sacrifice, encouragement, inspiration, motivation and most of all for never losing confidence in their children's ability to succeed. Today's graduation confirms that it was all worth it."

Keynote speaker, Professor William Gumede, 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.”

Professor Gumede also 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 advised.

This year EATI is also celebrating its 125-year celebration.

" 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%,” concluded Minister Meyer.