MAKHADO – In providing access to tertiary studies to the best performers from the historically disadvantaged settle-ments within its area of jurisdiction, the Makhado Municipality awarded R15 000 each to 20 successful learners during a ceremony held at the council chamber last Monday.

Cllr Rhulani Nkuzana, mayor of the council, said that, even though certain students who received the grants last year did not show commitment and dedication to their studies, they are appealing to students to recommit and rededicate themselves if they want to continue receiving the grant. According to Nkuzana, the objective of the bursary scheme is not only to help learners get access to tertiary education, but to ensure that “we produce technocrats who are able to take the economy of this country to the next stage and provide them with skills which will enable them to perform excellently in the public and business environment.”

He said that, as council, they were intending to establish a trust fund, through which all programmes of this nature would be funded, but further extended his invitation to the private sector and the business community to make contributions towards the trust fund as soon as it was established.

During the ceremony, it was announced that only 14 new students would get financial assistance for the 2005 academic year together with the six who received it last year, and will be doing their second year this year. One of the 14 beneficiaries, Lugisani Mulaudzi, said that the scholarship came at the right time while he was hungry for studies. “I now feel great after receiving this bursary. I will never disappoint my parents and the council by not performing because this will never come again to me."