The mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Cllr Mavhungu Luruli, urged students to work hard, so that they can produce good results and not forfeit their bursaries from the municipality.

She presented bursaries to 38 students who performed well in last year´s matric exams, during an event at the municipal caravan park in Louis Trichardt last Saturday. She awarded bursaries to students who are studying towards qualifications in agricultural engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, BComm Accounting, financial information systems, bachelor of science, human resource management, business administration and information science at various universities across the country.

"I hope you will not disappoint us and your parents. We will ensure that you get the skills that are required by the corporate world, but you need to work hard," Luruli told students. She said that the municipality was aware that the high levels of poverty and escalating costs of living also contributed immensely towards denying young people opportunities to go to school and get a better education.

Each student received a bursary of R15 000.

Lutendo Sigidi, who is studying BComm Accounting at the University of Venda, is one of the students who received the bursaries. She said she was happy that her dream of becoming a chartered accountant would be realized since she got the bursary. "It would be very difficult for me to further my studies, since my grandmother, who only depends on a pension grant, could not afford to send me to university," she said.

During the event, Luruli also presented 50 computers to high schools that are located within the Makhado municipal area, which were donated by the Tswane University of Technology.