Since 2001 the Southern Highveld Community Development Trust (SHCDT), a community social investment initiative of Graceland Hotel Casino & Country Club in Secunda, has given over 100 deserving youngsters living in the Govan Mbeki municipality area the opportunity to obtain a tertiary education by giving them all-expenses paid scholarships.  

After a stringent selection and interview process in January seven candidates were selected for the SHCDT bursary “Class of 2024” and received their scholarship letters and education packs at an event at Emperors Palace on Saturday morning, February 17. They (the seven bursars) were joined by four students from the “Class of 2023” whose scholarships have been extended for another year bringing the total students being supported by the Trust to 11.

Among the group who have had their scholarships extended are Nhlakanipho Mngomezulu, who originally matriculated from Vukuqhakaze Secondary School in 2019 and has since been studying for a BSc Electrical Engineering degree at the University of the Witwatersrand thanks to the SHCDT. He (Mngomezulu) will now be able to do his final year without needing to worry about any financial issues. Another member of the “Class of 2023” who is thrilled to have her bursary renewed is former Chief Ampie Mayisa High School matriculant, Philisiwe Mayaba who completed her BCom Economics and Management Sciences degree studies at the University of Pretoria last year and is now being funded to start her post grad LLB studies.

Having also been funded in 2023 and getting good results (during their first year of studies), WIts Bsc in Computer Sciences student, Siphamandla Mabena of Embalenhle and Leandra resident, Owethusonke Radebe who is doing a Bachelor of Social Sciences with Psychology degree at UNW have again been given bursaries by the Trust to continue their studies in 2024.

Among the new scholarship recipients are Unathi Radebe, Sizwe Mahlangu and Buhle Mokase who matriculated from Vukuqhakaze Secondary School in Leslie last year with five, four and three distinctions respectively. While Radebe is going to study Biomedical Engineering at Wits University, Mahlangu will do a BSc in Astronomy (Physics), also at Wits and Mokase is heading to the University of Johannesburg to become a teacher.

Bethal resident, Busisiwe Mahlambi who finished her schooling at Mzinoni Secondary School last year with three distinctions, also has her sights set on becoming a teacher and is heading to WITS thanks to the Trust.  Also heading to UJ, to do a Bachelor of Accounting degree is Zothile Zwane who obtained five distinctions on matriculating from Sizwakele Secondary in Embalenhle. Joining her in the same course and university will be Kiriyatswane Secondary School’s Siyethemba Myeni who obtained six distinctions in her final school exams in 2023.

Another learner heading to UJ is one of Thomas Nhlabathi Secondary School’s top learners, Matladi Makwana who achieved 4 distinctions in his matric exams. He will be pursuing a Computer Sciences degree with the help of the SHCDT.   

Apart from having their tuition and accommodation expenses covered, getting their books and a laptop sponsored, the Trust also provides a comprehensive mentorship programme for scholarship recipients to enable them to cope and develop new skills during their time at university. The programme covers study skills, emotional intelligence and employability. Monthly mentorship meetings are also held with the students to ensure that they receive the much-needed socio-psychological support required which has greatly contributed in the past to the Trust having an impressive 85% graduation rate which is far above the national graduation rate.

Photo Caption:

This year the SHCDT bestowed 11 bursaries on learners from the Graceland catchment area and they received their scholarship letters and education packs at an event at Emperors Palace on Saturday morning, February 17. Here SHCDT Chairperson, JP Mlangeni (back left), Graceland General Manager, Charlene Ludick (back second left), Graceland Financial Manager, Nthabiseng Tsatsi (back second right) and Peermont Trustee, Fihliwe Molefi (back right) are pictured with nine of the lucky recipients, at the back, Zothile Zwane, Siyethemba Myeni, Gladys Mahlambi, Buhle Mokase, Unathi Radebe, Philisiwe Mayaba and in front, Nhlakanipho Mngomezulu, Siphamandla Mabena and Matladi Makwana. Absent: Owethusonke Radebe and Sizwe Maglangu. 

(Photograph by Thapelo Seema)