Stakeholders gathered on Monday, 9 November 2026, for an engagement that included a site walkabout at the proposed Agricultural Precinct, comprising James Nxumalo Agricultural High School and Mthashana’s Emadleni Agricultural Campus.

The engagement brought together representatives from the Department of Higher Education and Training at National and Regional level, College management and Council, the Department of Basic Education at Provincial and Regional levels, the High School’s Management and Governing body, and the Zulu Royal House, as custodians of the land.

The proposed precinct is envisioned as a flagship for agricultural education in South Africa. Its central aim is to create a clear progression route from high school to college, while making better use of shared resources.

That integration would extend beyond infrastructure. The vision also includes developing a connected curriculum, allowing learners to move more smoothly from school-based agricultural studies into further education and training.

The idea of this precinct comes about as a proposed substantive contribution to be made by the Minister of the Department of Higher Education and Training in the development of the area of Ulundi after getting authorization by the Zulu Royal House to change the College’s name from Mthashana TVET College to King Zwelithini TVET College in honour of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini ka Bhekuzulu of the Zulu Nation.

Looking to the future, the precinct aims to prepare agricultural education for an era shaped by artificial intelligence and advanced technology. The engagement and site walkabout provided stakeholders with an opportunity to consider the proposal and its potential to shape the future of agricultural learning.