President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to pay a visit to the opening of the college ahead of his much anticipated Imbizo at the Dr Petrus Molemela Indoor Sport Centre.

Motheo TVET college spokesperson, Thabiso Mofokeng, tells OFM News the aim of this artisan development academy is to produce about 30 000 artisans by 2030.

He says that this was part of their vision, of supporting students who want to be artisans but cannot afford to pay high fees.

Mofokeng says that they approached the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board for funding, which ultimately set aside R450 million for the project.

READ MORE: President Ramaphosa to visit Tvet Artisan College

"The construction started at the end of 2018, beginning of 2019. At the time it was anticipated that the whole project would be finished by June 2019, but due to Covid-19 lockdowns and a shortage of material in the country, like steel, we had to import a lot of materials that were used there. The project was prolonged due to those reasons, but as I speak to you now it is 100% complete. We are expecting to occupy the building and the school to be fully functional by June 2022," adds Mofokeng.

He further adds that the college worked hand in hand with the Central University of Technology (CUT) and University of the Free State (UFS) to research and determine rare skills that the institution should offer. Mofokeng says the building has robotic labs, computers labs, various workshops, and also offer student accommodation.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi and Mpho Mofokeng