Johannesburg - The Gauteng provincial government has again committed itself to the academic excellence of Gauteng youth after more than 3 000 students were awarded bursaries through the Gauteng City Region Academy.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) and private partners awarded about 3 000 Gauteng youngsters through the Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA) on Tuesday in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni.
The 2021 Bursary Announcement Ceremony formed part of the provincial government and private partners’ 2021 financial academic commitments towards academic excellence in Gauteng. Since 2009, about R2.2 billion has been invested and about 27 000 young people have graduated in this period, Makhura revealed.
This brings the total number of GCRA beneficiaries to 30 000 since 2009.
One of this year’s beneficiaries is Tshepo Hlwempu, from Meadowlands, Soweto, who is a first-year student studying actuarial science at Wits University, and who obtained seven distinctions in his matric results.
“I am most delighted to have such a prestigious bursary to secure my dream of becoming a qualified actuary. Moreover, having this qualification will enlighten and bring hope to me, my family and, most vitally, my society,” Hlwempu said.
Makhura said that the best part about investing in education was that it can take anybody from any circumstance and turn them into gold.
He added that the only return in investment the provincial government expected from the bursary beneficiaries was the student’s commitment to “fight on many fronts so that this country is transformed”.
The Star