THE Durban University of Technology’s Development and Alumni Relations Department has awarded bursaries to 10 students. The bursaries will go towards their tuition fees. The students who received bursaries are from the departments of Analytical Chemistry, Information Technology and Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics. Each one of these students had applied for NSFAS financial support but were unable to secure funding due to a shortage of funds. Although not all the students who were awarded bursaries were raised by single parents, their parents are either unemployed or deceased.
Mlamuli Ntshangase who is one of the recipient says although he was the last born of four children, he was the first to attend University. “When I arrived here I only had registration fees,” he said..
“Both of my parents are unemployed and last year when I received feedback from NSFAS that I did qualify for funding but would not be able to get financial aid due to lack of funds, I saw my life crumbling before my eyes and thought I would never complete my studies. I am happy that through prayer, the Development and Alumni Relations Department at DUT was sent to lend a helping hand. I am truly grateful,” said the 3rd year Analytical Chemistry student.
The Development and Alumni Relations office has two initiatives aimed at providing support to DUT students. The first is named the “Missing Middle Bursary Fund” which supports students who are “too well off” to qualify for funding by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme but are still “too poor” to fund themselves. The second is the Food Security fund which supports students who struggle with securing meals for themselves on a regular basis.
Zwakele Ngubane, who is the acting Director of Development and Alumni Relations at the University, expressed great joy and gratitude to all those staff members and alumni of DUT who contribute towards the fund on a regular basis. “It’s only through continued support from DUT staff, alumni and the greater University community that such assistance can be provided to our deserving students,” he said.
