Hillensberg Trust donates bursaries to UL Students

The Hillensberg Trust Grant on Monday awarded bursaries worth R1 million to 15 academically deserving students in the fields of health sciences and humanities at the University of Limpopo (UL) on Monday.
The bursaries were awarded to first and second level students and will cover their full study costs including prescribed textbooks, residence and meals for the 2017 academic year.
A statement released by UL on Tuesday quoted Carina Marais, acting Director of the UL Trust to have said that the partnership with the Hillensberg Trust is a meaningful strides towards the development and well-being of our country. “As the university, we are very grateful for this funding as it will not only contribute to students but also to the development of our country,” the statement read.
Richard Madadzhe, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic and Research at the university commended the funding and added that the beneficiaries were fortunate to receive bursaries as student funding remained a challenge in the country due to, among other factors, the economic recession. He advised the beneficiaries to grab the opportunity with both hands by studying hard so that they can create job opportunities for other students.
Mpelege Masewawatla, a BA Performing Arts second level student and one of the beneficiaries, said the funding would play a pivotal role in her studies as she came from single parent family. “It was difficult for my mother to pay for my fees. The bursary will relieve her burden and I, on the other hand, can now focus on improving the livelihood of my siblings in the near future.”
Thabang Malaka, a first year Bachelor of Pharmacy student, said since his father passed on in 2016 things at home had become difficult for their mother. “My sister is currently in her third year of studying BSc Animal Production and our mother was not coping with both of us being at university. This funding will make things easy for her,” Malaka stated.
Tlhologelo Radebe is a second level BSc Optometry student who said the bursary meant that she could give her studies a hundred percent without financial worry. “I’m going to work hard and pass well to realise my dream of opening an optometry practice.”
The Hillensberg Trust Grant was established by notable investor, the late Leo Karl Dreissen who was born in Germany in 1909 and came to South Africa in the early 1930s. He was married to Frederika Maria Hoebert and they never had children.
The Dreissen family founded United Car and Diesel Distributors, and held the South African franchise for Mercedes-Benz and DKW as well as owned a number of properties in central Pretoria and other parts of the country. Leo died in 1975 and Frederika in 1993. Both left most of their estates and funds to the Hillensberg Trust.

Story: Herbert Rachuene
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