The Estcourt community raised R60 000 to contribute towards youth and skills development in Estcourt.
This amount was raised at the MtsheziFest Imbizo, which was held on Christmas Eve last year at Lambert Park. A presentation ceremony was held at Mpumelelo High School in Loskop on Friday, January 29.
MtsheziFest Imbizo organisers handed over the funds to five academically deserving students from disadvantaged backgrounds who wish to further their studies at a university but cannot afford the fees.
This initiative is a commitment that was taken on by Major League Events alongside Khathini Solutions, to identify and fund academically deserving students from disadvantaged backgrounds within uMtshezi and Imbabazane municipalities.
The annual event is sponsored, amongst others by uMtshezi Municipality and Imbabazane municipalities.
Under Operation Sukuma Sakhe, the official handing over was attended by the mayors of both municipalities, community members, traditional and political leaders, educators and learners.
The theme for the day was ‘Getting Back to School’.
The Mayor of Imbabazane Municipality Phindile Strydom applauded the commitment of MtsheziFest Imbizo organisers for supporting education and improving the lives of the youth.
uMtshezi Municipality Mayor Bongani Dlamini echoed those sentiments and encouraged learners and educators to work harder towards achieving good results in school.
“We would like to applaud the commitment of both uMtshezi and Imbabazane municipalities for their continued support of the event.
“As a result of their support, we are able to embark on programmes that benefit the society.
“We would also like to thank Mr Ndumiso Mdakane for offering to support this initiative and donate R10 000 towards this initiative.
“Our goal is to increase the contribution and mobilise more people to participate in this programme to ensure that more and more leaners who excel academically but cannot afford university fees, have access to higher education.
“This can have a huge positive impact in breaking the poverty cycle within our communities,” said one of the MtsheziFest Imbizo organisers.