Siphelele Nketo
PLANS to launch a new university campus in the small town of Mbizana in the Eastern Cape are at a promising stage following the recent signing of a memorandum between Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu (iWSU) and the Alfred Nzo District Municipality.
Part of the agreement involved the establishment of an iWSU agricultural satellite campus in Mbizana.
The partnership represents a shared commitment to expanding access to higher education while positioning agriculture, research, innovation and rural development at the centre of socio-economic transformation in the area.
The proposed iWSU Agricultural Satellite Campus intends to create opportunities for local students, strengthen agricultural education and innovation, support emerging farmers, stimulate rural economic development, and contribute to sustainable growth across the Alfred Nzo district. The mayor of Mbizana Local Municipality Daniswa Mafumbatha has described the signing of the memorandum as the fulfilment of a long-held dream that will benefit the community of Mbizana and surrounding areas.
“This is a dream come true for our people. For many years, we have envisioned bringing a university closer to our communities, and today that vision has taken a significant step towards becoming a reality,” she said, adding that the establishment of the iWSU agricultural satellite campus will expand access to higher education, empower youth, strengthen agricultural development, create employment opportunities and stimulate the local economy.
According to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality manager Luvuyo Mahlaka, the partnership between the stakeholders has become a transformative initiative that will unlock educational opportunities, strengthen local capacity and contribute to the municipality’s long-term development goals.
The Alfred Nzo District Municipality manager Zamile Sikhundla said the district continues to face the challenge of unemployment, particularly in rural communities. He noted that the establishment of the institution will attract investment, create employment opportunities and make a meaningful contribution to the socio-economic development of the district. At the signing ceremony, vice-chancellor and principal of iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu, Professor Thandi Mgwebi, said the project had already reached its critical foundational stage through strong collaboration between government and the university.
“This partnership demonstrates what is possible when government and higher education institutions work together with a shared vision. The work does not begin when buildings are completed; the work begins now. Through agricultural development, community engagement, research and innovation, we are laying the foundation for a lasting legacy that will benefit current and future generations,” she concluded.
