The City of Matlosana’s Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Mr Oupa Kgoete, assisted in arranging time in the busy schedule of the Executive Mayor to enable him to be present at the Bursary Handover Ceremony on Friday, the 2nd of September. The Mayor motivated the 17 bursary recipients in their tertiary education and showed his support to MaxProf’s initiatives as a corporate company in contributing towards educating our youth.
The day had finally arrived, and a lot of preparation had gone into co-ordinating the Handover Ceremony which was held at the Klerksdorp Public Library. These ceremonies strengthen partnerships between MaxProf and municipalities such as the City of Matlosana and provide a platform for leaders to inspire our youth to approach education with serious intent. Much appreciation was expressed to MaxProf for the huge investment made in tertiary education through the bursary and learnership programmes across South Africa. We invited all bursary recipients and their parents to attend the event. While we awaited the municipal dignitaries, it allowed us an opportunity to interact with the students and their parents. It was lovely to finally put faces to the students’ names after many months of only speaking over the phone.
Klerksdorp’s main economic sectors are mining, agriculture, services, construction and transport, and with our bursary recipients studying courses in management ranging between Business, Human Resources, Marketing, Public Management and Management Assistant, they will fit well within these sectors, as future job opportunities will be available. Those students specialising in Engineering studies are studying Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. The various courses selected by the bursary recipients, will assist them in attaining skills that will contribute to the main industries in their hometown.
The Deputy Director in the office of the Executive Mayor, Mr Steven Marumo lead the proceedings as the programme director. Mr Marumo welcomed everyone to the event. He expressed sincerity in his address to the students during which he stated that he wished he could go back in time and educate himself in a different field of study. He also said that bursaries were previously unheard-of, so students should appreciate the opportunity presented by MaxProf of receiving a tertiary education without any financial burden. Mr Marumo proceeded with the programme and called upon MaxProf’s CEO, Mr Pratish Ramdas, to address the attendees of the event. Mr Ramdas explained EST Sourcing and MaxProf’s partnership with regards to the bursary programme. He also recognised the long-standing relationship between MaxProf and the City of Matlosana, as well as the importance of strengthening this relationship through sustainable initiatives aimed at community development.
The CEO of EST Sourcing, Mrs Renusha Ramdas, also took to the podium and expressed her appreciation to MaxProf and the City of Matlosana for enabling bursary sponsorships and for their contribution towards the success of the event. The 17 bursaries were awarded at a local college: Springfield FET College Klerksdorp, totalling R 112,160.
She expressed her gratitude to the Principal of Springfield College, Mr Khumalo, for attending the ceremony and keeping EST Sourcing abreast with the performance of the bursary recipients. It showed his commitment to partnering with EST Sourcing in supporting our students.
Compared to all the other municipalities where EST Sourcing has awarded bursaries, this programme has the largest number of bursars in one municipality, and EST Sourcing is proud to contribute positively to the development of Klerksdorp by means of providing educational opportunities to its youth.
The Mayor, Cllr James Tsolela opened his keynote address with an apt quote by Dr Martin Luther King Jnr stating the following, “Occasionally in life there are moments which cannot be completely explained by words. Their meaning can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.” This quote speaks to the Mayor ’s appreciation and support of this initiative that ensures a bright future for youth living in the city that he represents. The Mayor reiterated that everyone should have access to education, and this is what the initiative is trying to propagate. He encouraged the bursary recipients to appreciate every effort that goes towards contributing to making their dreams come true. “Education does not only contribute to career development, but it also equips individuals with decision making and problem-solving skills” he stated. The Mayor further recounts that the success of the community, will depend on its ability to follow the golden rule: “to treat others as they would like to be treated”. “Empathy, discipline, and the capacity to think critically are skills that change how we perceive ourselves. These skills allow each of us to seek a new horizon and opportunities with confidence and with the knowledge that we are ready to face obstacles and challenges.” This is indeed a celebration of the impact that partnerships between private and public sectors can make to the development of communities.
Two bursary recipients Ms Keneuoe Motsamai and Mr Katlego Selabe expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the difference that the bursary programme has made in their lives. Ms Motsamai who is currently studying Electrical Engineering shared that her grandmother who is a domestic worker raised her and was unable to afford her tertiary education. This is an amazing opportunity for her to start her career and in due course give back to her community, as EST Sourcing and MaxProf have granted her a bright future. Mr Selabe also expressed how indebted he felt towards EST Sourcing and MaxProf, and that he would not have had the means to study if it were not for this bursary programme. He will therefore ensure that he works hard and graduates.
After conclusion of the proceedings, all guests were invited to enjoy some refreshments, where we had the opportunity to interact with the students and their parents. The day was indeed a success!
