EThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda is pictured with sponsors and bursary recipients during the 2023 eThekwini Mayoral Matric Excellence
Awards.

A FORMER JG Zuma High School learner and now a BSC Electrical Engineering graduate Sibongakonke Dludla praised the Municipality for changing lives. He said the City gave him a lifechanging opportunity in the form of a bursary when he matriculated five years ago. Dludla was speaking at the 2023 eThekwini Mayoral Matric Excellence Awards on 27 January. The event saw eThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda celebrate the top 10 learners in the eThekwini Metro, the top 10 performing schools as well as the most improved schools.

The top performing learners received a full bursary that will cover their tuition fees, accommodation, and a stipend for the duration of their diploma or degree. Since its inception, the eThekwini Mayoral Matric Excellence Awards has seen over 250 learners benefit from bursaries while several schools received items to promote learning. Dludla, who comes from a poor background, said without the Municipality he would have not acquired his BSC in Electrical Engineering degree. “My parents could not afford to send me to university. I have to thank eThekwini Municipality for helping me realise my dream of becoming an Electrical Engineer. I hope the new cohort of bursary recipients will do their best as they begin their new journey,” said Dludla. 

Mayor Kaunda said the class of 2023 has demonstrated that through hard work and dedication, great results can be achieved. “We are proud of the programmes we have in place to assist academically deserving learners to further their studies at tertiary institutions. As a caring government, we have set aside funding to assist learners from poor backgrounds through the Student Relief Fund towards registration costs. We will also be offering full bursaries to the top performing learners to pursue careers of their choice at public universities and colleges. Currently, the City is providing bursaries to 100 students with a financial support of R12 million,” said Mayor Kaunda.