MIDDELBURG — Nkangala TVET College is phasing out its NATED programmes to make way for occupational programmes and trades as it prepares to open applications for the 2027 academic year next week.
The announcement was made by the college’s Acting Deputy Principal for Academic Services, Goodman Ndlala, during the college’s 19th graduation ceremony at the Banquet Hall in Middelburg on Thursday, 17 September.
Ndlala confirmed that there would be no new intake for NATED programmes.
“Unfortunately, we are phasing out the NATED N4 programmes for both Engineering and Business, so there will be no applications accepted for that. We are moving towards occupational programmes,” Ndlala said.
He said applications for 2027 would open on Monday, 21 September, with prospective students advised to check the Nkangala TVET College Facebook page and website for the application link.
“We no longer have NATED - no N1, N2, N3, N4 at all. Only N5 and N6 for students who are already in the system, but they are also being phased out,” he said.
According to Ndlala, new students will be able to enrol for Level 2 programmes in Engineering, IT, Hospitality and Tourism, and Transport and Logistics.
The college will also offer occupational programmes at Level 5, including Bookkeeper, Project Manager, Office Administrator and Solar Technician. Trades offered include Plumbing, Welding, Electrical, Boilermaking and Millwright.
The announcement came as the college held a two-day graduation ceremony, which began on Wednesday, 16 September, and concluded on Thursday.
More than 600 graduates received diplomas and certificates in Business and Engineering Studies.
On Wednesday, more than 250 students received National N Diplomas, while more than 300 students were capped with National Certificate Vocational (NCV) Level 4 qualifications on Thursday.
College management congratulated the graduates on their perseverance and urged them to use their skills to contribute to the economy of the district and the country.
Among the graduates was Eugene Chauke, who studied Electrical Infrastructure and Construction at Witbank Campus. He said it took him five years to complete his qualification.
Chauke has already completed his trade test through Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) and is now seeking employment.
Grace Mahlangu from Siyabuswa Campus, who studied Transport and Logistics, said she was not yet employed as she was furthering her studies in Supply Chain Management.
Paul Lubambo, also from Witbank Campus, completed Transport and Logistics Level 4. He said he was currently employed and planned to further his studies in Supply Chain Management at university.
Parents, lecturers and local leaders attended the ceremony to celebrate the graduates’ achievements.
Ndlala wished the graduates well as they entered the next stage of their careers.
“To the graduates, we appreciate that they joined the college and have now completed. That is our mission as a college. We wish them all the best in life. They must believe in themselves - they can work anywhere, they are well equipped. They must remain disciplined when they get into the workplace, respect supervisors and employers, and they will be successful,” he said.
The phase-out forms part of the Department of Higher Education and Training’s gradual move away from NATED Report 191 programmes towards occupational qualifications accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). DHET’s 2026/27 Annual Performance Plan states that NATED Report 191 programmes are gradually being phased out and replaced by occupational qualifications, with 24 new occupational qualifications introduced at TVET colleges from January 2026.
