Premier Mabuza gives bursaries to 105 students

Premier Mabuza gives bursaries to 105 students

Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has financially supported 105 students to further their tertiary education at any institution through his newly established DD Mabuza Foundation. His Foundation will be spending R5.5 million in the 2015 academic year in assisting the students who mainly come from the disadvantaged backgrounds in the rural areas.

On Wednesday 28 January 2015 the Foundation gave all 105 students their bursary contracts stating amongst others that the Bursary Fund shall be granted once the students have satisfied all conditions, having passed all courses they have registered for.  The bursary would be suspended in the event students fail their courses and should they repeat certain courses, it will be done at their personal expenses. The students were warned to behave themselves and be good ambassadors of the province especially of the Foundation.

One of the Foundation’s trustees Professor John Shongwe reiterated that the foundation stretched itself especially with the registrations in order to assist as many students.

“We have a view that the Foundation rather has no money than not assisting the people who desperately need our intervention. We even took it upon ourselves to guide the students on the choice of the courses based on what we think is demanded by the labor market. We expect the students to make the donors proud by doing well one their work. The donors are doing this out of a good heart and seeing the good results on what they have planted, will surely bring a smile on their face,” said Prof Shongwe.

The Foundation was formed in August last year after the Premier was consistently blocked and begged for financial assistance to further their studies by needy students at his Barberton residence. Besides the 105 students assisted by the Foundation, Premier Mabuza has previously and personally helped more than 300 people; some of them are occupying high profile leadership positions.