As the country grapples with the complexities of developing a lucrative and inclusive Cannabis industry, South African Cannabis education provider, Cheeba Cannabis & Hemp Academy is leading the way on the African continent with the launch of its Higher Certificate in Cannabis Production & Management.
This essential Cannabis education programme is the first to be accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) which is an internationally recognised accreditation body. It comes at the same time as Cheeba Africa has announced a partnership to bring its offering to Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.
The economically-stressed province is hoping to see benefits from provincial government efforts to roll out an investment in the local medical Cannabis industry that is expected to reach R1 billion over the next five years.
Trenton Birch, CEO and Co-founder of Cheeba Africa says, “It has been a rigorous four-year journey for our Academy to reach this important accreditation milestone and we’re excited to set this benchmark in Cannabis education by offering this powerful programme to potential Cannabis entrepreneurs and workers.
It is a proud moment for our industry, and for South Africa, as we lead the way in one of the most important sectors of our time. The emerging Cannabis and Hemp industry has so much potential to create sustainable and dignified livelihoods in South Africa, especially in some of our most underserved communities.
Cheeba Academy’s Higher Certificate in Cannabis Production & Management programme is a 120 credit, NQF Level 5 qualification. The programme will be offered at the Academy’s flagship campus in Johannesburg making it easily accessible to students from other African countries and the world.
This full-time, in-class experience which includes practical training is designed to be one of the most unique Cannabis learning opportunities in the world. Covering crucial topics such as medical Cannabis, cultivation techniques, commercial operations, Cannabis business, sustainable farming, futurism and wellness, the Higher Certificate course equips students for a variety of roles across the entire Cannabis sector value chain.
Can Cannabis and hemp turn the tide against poverty and unemployment in the Eastern Cape?
The new partnership that Cheeba Cannabis and Hemp Academy has formed with the Township Cannabis Incubator (TCI) in Mthatha, Eastern Cape is a partnership that recognises the significant potential of Cannabis related job creation and sustainable development in one of South Africa’s most rural and underserved provinces.
Official unemployment rates in the Eastern Cape are above 40%, and the expanded unemployment rates are close to 50%. With 60% of the population living below the poverty level, it is recognised as one of the country’s poorest regions.
Yet, when it comes to Cannabis heritage, the Eastern Cape is undoubtedly rich. It is one of the most significant regions for Cannabis cultivation on the African continent. Cheeba Director and co-founder Linda Siboto, born in Mthatha, says,
It’s an honour to be part of this transformative initiative which recognises the role of education in developing a world-class Cannabis industry from a space in my own birthplace. Contributing to the capacity building in the Eastern Cape through education is a dream come true for me.
It reflects Cheeba Africa’s deep commitment to building a South African Cannabis industry that is inclusive of small-scale rural growers and recognises the heritage created by indigenous growers.”
Cheeba’s new Mthatha service offering is a collaboration with the Township Cannabis Incubator (TCI) also brings a joint venture partner, Training Force. TCI supports the development of rural and township-based Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to drive local economic growth in the Cannabis industry. TCI’s CEO, Dr Ncebakazi Galada, says, “We are extremely excited and proud to partner with Cheeba and Training Force to bring the Cheeba Cannabis and Hemp Academy’s offering to Mthatha and its surrounds.
Cheeba and Training Force’s academic programme complements the TCI’s business incubation support which will enable rural, and township based MSMEs, who have been mainly sidelined and excluded as key participants in the mainstream economy, to be highly skilled not only with cannabis cultivation but also manufacturing into high value-added products suitable for the local and global markets.
The Academy’s expansion into Mthatha is supported by Training Force, a leading African training provider and a member of Workforce Group with its Level 1 BEE status. Since 2003, Training Force has delivered training to over 3,000 companies and upskilled thousands of workers across South Africa in various sectors.
Daniel Orelowitz, Managing Director of Training Force says, “This collaboration strengthens our long-standing relationship with Cheeba, and we are excited to extend our footprint in the Eastern Cape, a region deserving of job creation and economic revitalisation.”
With the CHE-accreditation of the Academy’s first Higher Certificate and the opening of its offering in Mthatha, Cheeba Africa is well-positioned to take Cannabis and hemp education and industry development to the next-level in 2025. From educating 100 hemp farmers in the Eastern Cape and training the Malawian government’s Seed Services Unit to successfully running their second Cannabis & Hemp Business Mastery Programme in partnership with GIBS Business School, Cheeba continues to make impactful strides in Cannabis education.
Their ongoing participation in South Africa’s Presidential Office Jobs Boost Programme, which involves the training of sixty budtenders also underscores their commitment to job creation and ongoing industry development.
