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On 20 November 2025, Ntabankulu Local Municipality Mayor, Cllr Tsileng Sobuthongo, laid the first brick for the town’s new Agricultural College Campus. The ceremony marked a major milestone in a project first initiated through engagements between the Mayor and former Higher Education Minister Dr Blade Nzimande in August 2021.
What Happened
The brick-laying event officially launched construction of the college’s first phase. Government has committed R102 million to this stage, which is scheduled for completion in May 2026.
The institution will combine classroom learning with practical agricultural production, including dairy, beef, and crop farming.
Official Response
Mayor Sobuthongo said the project stands as a turning point for the municipality.
“This college is more than an education facility — it is an engine for economic growth and a direct investment in our young people,” she said.
She added that the project will create jobs both during construction and once training and production activities begin.
Community Impact
Residents expect the college to boost food production, support emerging farmers, and open new career pathways for youth. The agro-processing component is also projected to stimulate local business growth and strengthen Ntabankulu’s agricultural value chain.
Community leaders welcomed the development, calling it a long-awaited opportunity to uplift the region.
