The executive mayor of Vhembe District, Cllr Florence Dzhombere, says the municipality has set aside R3.5million for a bursary fund to assist destitute students in the district who are coming from disadvantaged families.

The bursaries cater for tuition fees, books and accommodation. “This is in response to the needs of the community we serve. We have established this bursary fund to assist learners who passed their Grade 12 and qualify to further their studies at universities or tecknikons. These learners must be from poor families and be unable to access tertiary education due to poverty,” said Dzhombere.

Although Dzhombere acknowledges that there are too many needy children in the district, the funds will only assist a few students. She added that the bursary would serve as a contribution towards a better life for all.

Eligible learners should be residents of Vhembe District Municipality and should show consistency in good performance, while their parents must be unemployed or classified as indigent. "To qualify, a learner must be either in Grade 12 during this current financial year or has already passed Grade 12. Preference will be given to learners who have passed mathematics, science, commercial subjects and technology as key subjects," emphasized Dzhombere.

The bursaries cover the fields of study focusing on engineering (civil, electrical, mining and chemical), auditing, financial accounting, economics and business management related to the areas of tourism, agriculture and mining.

Dzhombere said that her municipality recommended learners who qualified for this bursary to enroll at the University of Venda, University of Limpopo, Technicon Pretoria (Polokwane campus), Madzivhandila Agricultural College or the Vhembe FET College.

Application forms are currently obtainable from the office of the executive mayor at office number B23 on the second floor and the closing date is 18 January 2012.

The application forms should be accompanied by a certified copy of the Grade 12 statement of results or tertiary academic record, an affidavit which shows indigence, proof of residence, certified copy of ID/ birth certificate, letter of reference from the school principal (for Grade 12) or certificate of good conduct from a tertiary institution.

Children of councilors and municipal officials are not eligible to apply for this bursary fund, according to Dzhombere.