Transport Deputy Minister addresses NWU Mafikeng graduations

Deputy Minister of Transport Sindiswa Chikunga was the guest speaker during the Graduation Ceremony of Commerce and Administration and Law Faculty at NWU Mafikeng Campus, on 5 May 2016, held at the Campus Great Hall.

The Department of Transport has helped fund hundreds of students enrolled for Transport Economics and Logistics Management in the Faculty of Commerce and Administration. The two courses are relatively new, and were introduced to a crop of African students that would run commercial road transport logistics and have a foothold in maritime and aviation sectors that have been the preserve of whites.

Honourable Chikunga challenged graduates at North West University (NWU) Mafikeng Campus to be patriotic so that they can contribute meaningfully to economic transformation.

"In our quest to better our country, we all have a mandate to carry out our roles and responsibilities to create a nurturing environment for true patriots, who not only love their country, but equally commit energy and resources towards the betterment of its people.

"As such, we can thus fashion a single belief that patriotism is about duty to one's country, it's a commitment to support and to defend your country and its interests with devotion," Chikunga said.

The deputy minister said the graduates needed to understand their purpose in the world to change it for the better.

"We have strengthened youth service programmes and introduced new community-based programmes to offer the youth life skills training and opportunities to participate in community development programmes, strengthened and expanded the number of FET colleges to increase the participation rate to 25%, increased the graduation rate at FET colleges to 75%, provided full funding assistance covering tuition, books, accommodation and living allowance to students from poor families, among others," she concluded.