Bursary dream come true

After 14 years of trying to get funding to further his studies, Mandeni’s Thabani Msweli (35) was awarded a bursary by the Mandeni municipality two weeks ago.

Msweli joined the 15 top performing 20213 matriculants who were given bursaries to study at tertiary institutions of their choice by the Mandeni Municipality.

In an event held at Sibusisiwe Hall, Mandeni Mayor, Siphesihle Zulu said it was an honour for him to finally be able to make Msweli’s dream come true.

The mayor spoke about how him and Msweli had finished their matric in the same year and how Msweli’s persistence and strong will had kept him applying for the bursary.

An emotional Msweli told everyone how he had always dreamed of an opportunity to be the first one in his family to get a degree and thanked the municipality of making his dream a possibility.

“I have been applying for a bursaries since 1999 with the hope that someone would eventually hear my call and I can not tell you how happy I am to be finally given an opportunity to pursue my studies,” said Msweli.

The bursary ceremony was also attended by KZN MEC of education Peggy Nkonyeni who told the packed Sibusisiwe Hall that she was proud of the matriculants’ outstanding achievements and hoped the 2014 group followed their example.

“To be able to achieve, more pupils need to stay focused and pursue their goals. Tertiary education demands that you choose fine friends with high morals,” said Nkonyeni.

Her advise were echoed by Zulu who encouraged the awardees not to lose their “thirst for knowledge because education is the only weapon to fight poverty and inequality amongst our disadvantaged communities.”

Mandeni municipality committed R100 000 towards the bursary scheme and the local business sector contributed R50 000.