Young, tall, energetic and definitely beautiful are some of the words to describe Lizani Visser, Top Model Body of the year winner 2020. This beautiful young mother contributes her success to hard work and determination.
Top Model – Body of the Year!
Lizani spoke to The Bulletin about her
path to winning the coveted title of Top Model, Body of the year.
Lizani posted some of her photographs on Facebook. She was very sceptical when she received a phone call from someone claiming to be a scout for the Top Model competition. “There are a lot of people out there that will try and mislead you,” said Lizani “I have received some funny requests from people claiming to be scouts!”
The moment of truth!
She did the right thing and researched the so-called scout. Lizani found the scouts name on the Top Model website and wrote to them confirming the scout’s participation. Only then was she satisfied that this was really a scout for Top Model.
She entered the competition as a wild card in the beginning of this year, even though the competition already started in 2019. The road was not plain sailing though, there were workshops to attend in Pretoria. “I am very lucky to have a husband that fully supported my journey,” Lizani said to The Bulletin. “He would stand in with my duties as a mother when I couldn’t.” They have a lovely daughter of four years.
The entrants had to assemble in Pretoria
at Menlyn Maine, Time Square Sun Arena, a few days
before the competition. This was the most gruelling part. The whole show had to
be rehearsed and memorised in about two days.
The Big day finally arrived. It started
early on Thursday morning (27 February) with makeup and hair to be done. “The
day went past so quickly.”
“I was very nervous when the show actually started,” said Lizani. “We couldn’t make any mistakes!”
When the winner for the category “Body of the Year” was called, Lizani couldn’t believe her ears. She believed that was a mistake at first but then reality sunk in.
She was the “Top Model, Body of the Year,”
winner. There were no runners up, only a winner and that was our very own,
Lizani Visser.
The Bulletin would also like to express our congratulations to Lizani. The Year of Reign will now start and it is unfamiliar territory for Lizani but she is confident that she will be able to cope.
Lizani’s advice to young girls? “Believe in yourself, accept your flaws and live healthily.”
Advice on Facebook? “Remember that your Facebook will paint a picture for scouts. It is also a reflection of your life to other people.”
Last week on one of the radio stations the presenters were joking about the Coronavirus. They were saying that there were only 2 confirmed cases on the African continent. Little did they know that this week there would be a confirmed case in South Africa.
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they
are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that
SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary
camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that
have not yet infected humans.
Common signs of infection include
respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing
difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute
respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. (https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus)
This morning, 5 March, the first confirmed
case of the Coronavirus was confirmed in South Africa by the Minister of
Health, Minister Zweli Mkhize.
The Minister tweeted the following on his official account: “This morning, Thursday, March 5, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed that a suspected case of COVID-19 has tested positive. The patient is a 38-year-old male, who travelled to Italy with his wife. They were part of a group of 10 people and they arrived back in South Africa on 1 March 2020.”
This announcement was made on Twitter
moments before a Parliamentary debate on South Africa’s readiness to deal with
Coronavirus (COVD-19).
The patient consulted
a private general practitioner on Tuesday, 3 March, with symptoms of fever,
headache, malaise, a sore throat and a cough according to the Minster. The
practice nurse took swabs and delivered it to the lab. The patient has been
self-isolating since 3 March. The couple has two children.
“The tracer team has
been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal with epidemiologists and clinicians from NICD.
The doctor has been self-isolating as well. The Emergency Operating Centre
(EOC) has identified the contacts by interviewing the patient and doctor,” said
Minister Mkhize.
Minister Zweli Mkhize
A media briefing will
be held after the Parliamentary debate by the Minister to ensure that the
public is kept up to date.
“A press briefing
will be held later after the parliamentary debate this evening to shed more
light on this issue,” said Mkhize.
Follow this link to watch the full media briefing on the Coronavirus
in South Africa: https://youtu.be/PtxCrNqHUYY
This video was streamed live by SABCNews. – Ané Prinsloo
Last week on one of the radio stations the presenters were joking about the Coronavirus. They were saying that there were only 2 confirmed cases on the African continent. Little did they know that this week there would be a confirmed case in South Africa.
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they
are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that
SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary
camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that
have not yet infected humans.
Common signs of infection include
respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing
difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute
respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. (https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus)
This morning, 5 March, the first confirmed
case of the Coronavirus was confirmed in South Africa by the Minister of
Health, Minister Zweli Mkhize.
The Minister tweeted the following on his official account: “This morning, Thursday, March 5, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed that a suspected case of COVID-19 has tested positive. The patient is a 38-year-old male, who travelled to Italy with his wife. They were part of a group of 10 people and they arrived back in South Africa on 1 March 2020.”
This announcement was made on Twitter
moments before a Parliamentary debate on South Africa’s readiness to deal with
Coronavirus (COVD-19).
The patient consulted
a private general practitioner on Tuesday, 3 March, with symptoms of fever,
headache, malaise, a sore throat and a cough according to the Minster. The
practice nurse took swabs and delivered it to the lab. The patient has been
self-isolating since 3 March. The couple has two children.
“The tracer team has
been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal with epidemiologists and clinicians from NICD.
The doctor has been self-isolating as well. The Emergency Operating Centre
(EOC) has identified the contacts by interviewing the patient and doctor,” said
Minister Mkhize.
Minister Zweli Mkhize
A media briefing will
be held after the Parliamentary debate by the Minister to ensure that the
public is kept up to date.
“A press briefing
will be held later after the parliamentary debate this evening to shed more
light on this issue,” said Mkhize.
Follow this link to watch the full media briefing on the Coronavirus
in South Africa: https://youtu.be/PtxCrNqHUYY
This video was streamed live by SABCNews. – Ané Prinsloo
PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER APPLAUDS POLICE AND
TRACKER CONNECT FOR ARRESTING SUSPECTS WHO DISGUISED THEMSELVES AS POLICE
Nelspruit – The Provincial Commissioner of
the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma
has applauded police from Gauteng, Mpumalanga as well as Tracker Connect Team
who collectively arrested three suspects, aged between 26 and 36, on Thursday
27 February 2020 at Emalahleni, for robbery, impersonating police as well as
for possession of suspected stolen property.
The arrest of the suspects is part of the
police’s efforts to put an end as well as bring to justice all the suspects who
are terrorising motorists by posing as different law enforcement agencies,
where they would often pull over vehicles and rob occupants of their goods or
belongings around Delmas on the N12 and Emalahleni on the N4, between Balmoral
and Bronkhorspruit as well as surrounding areas. Police have registered several
cases at which suspects masquerading as law enforcement agencies would flash
blue lights at the motorists signalling them to stop, then rob them of their
belongings or cargo in the case of trucks. Some of the victims happen to be
foreign nationals and domestic tourists who according to information, are
usually followed from Gauteng then pounced on around Witbank and Delmas
respectively.
In Delmas, vehicles that are targeted
include trucks transporting different cargo, they also stop the drivers by
flashing a blue light then force them to drive to secluded areas, the
suspects then tie the victims, empty the loads, leaving them( victims)
helpless in the bushes. Overwhelming complaints were reported at Delmas police station however,
the modus operandi revealed that police in Mpumalanga were facing a common
challenge with their counterparts in Gauteng and therefore worked together
hence the breakthrough. After receiving these complaints, both provinces have
been initially working on a plan that would bring an end to this reign of
terror. They then coordinated their activities diligently as a collective with
Tracker Connect Team and monitored movements of these suspects.
According to reports, police analysed the
suspects’ trends, flowing from Gauteng. It is also however known that some of
the victims were followed from Nelspruit and other areas in the lowveld but
pounced on around Witbank and Delmas. On the said date, police spotted a VW
Polo on the N4 National road which fitted the same description of the vehicle
they were looking for and it had three occupants, they(police) instructed the
driver to stop but he deliberately ignored them. The actions of the driver led
to a high-speed chase where the suspects were finally cornered at Emalahleni.
Upon searching the three suspects as well as the vehicle, police recovered SAPS
Appointment Cards, cell phones believed to be those belonging to the victims as
well as other items. The trio were immediately brought to book and charged
accordingly.
Extensive investigation into the matter is
underway but police are not yet convinced that these are the only suspects
operating around Delmas and Emalahleni. A preliminary probe suggests that the
trio might be connected to several cases which were committed mainly in
Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces respectively. They (police) have vowed to
broaden the scope of their investigations against the suspects with a view to
ascertain whether the trio are involved in the series of criminal activities,
that have been registered around White River and Hazyview as well as other
areas where foreign nationals in the main, were victims.
General Zuma welcomed the arrest of the
three men and thanked the team of police from Mpumalanga, Gauteng as well as
Tracker Connect for their relentless efforts in dealing with this type of
sophisticated crime. “The arrest of the trio has somewhat come as a
breakthrough for us and I have ordered for a thorough investigation into this
case, especially because police items were used to commit crime. The
investigation will reveal how the suspects got hold of these items. Anyone who
will be found to have crossed the line, will face the full might of the law. We
cannot allow individuals to drag the name of the law enforcement agencies
through the mud without any consequence, ” said General Zuma.
Police cannot rule out possibilities of
linking the suspects to other reported cases of robberies in and around the
province.
Meanwhile the three suspects were expected
to appear at the Witbank Magistrate’s Court, Monday 02 March 2020. The police
are also making an earnest call to victims who were robbed at the areas
mentioned but did not open cases to please approach the Witbank Police Station
for help
Every year the Secunda Mall runs the Win Your School Fees competition. This competition was started with the idea in mind to excite parents and children who are going back to school. The prize is a year’s school fees. This also gives some financial relief for the year ahead as everyone knows January is 2 months long!
This year the lucky winner was a student
from Hoërskool Oosterland, Ethan Lockwood. Ethan’s very proud grandmother
entered him into the competition.
Secunda Mall’s Marketing Manager, Danelle van der Watt and Operations Manager, William Smith, surprised Ethan at Hoërskool Oosterland yesterday, 3 March. Ethan was humbly surprised and shocked when Danelle handed over the cheque worth R 16 500.00.
Danelle van der Watt, Mall Manager and the lucky winner, Ethan Lockwood
Danelle said: “Everyone at Secunda Mall
would like to wish Ethan only the best in this academic year. We know he’ll be
successful in the future.”
Congratulations Ethan on being the lucky
winner!!! – Ané Prinsloo
Misty Waters is going international!! We are so excited to release our third and final artist announcement for Misty Waters Music Festival 2020 that will take place at Lake Umuzi Waterfront in Secunda, Mpumalanga.
All the way from Phoenix, Arizona the KONGOS brothers – Johnny, Jesse, Dylan and Danny – will be visiting their dad in South Africa in April / May 2020 and we have the privilege to have them on the Misty Waters stage. Growing up in London and Johannesburg, these 4 brothers are no strangers to sunny South Africa.
After 9 years of searching for that first break, it finally came in 2011 when “I’m only joking” became a radio smash in South Africa, followed by multiple top 40 hits from their second album “Lunatic” and “Come With Me Now”.
Therefore, it is only fitting that KONGOS come to South Africa, and more specifically to Misty Waters at Lake Umuzi, to launch their new venture KONGOS BEER.
Next up, we have Safety First! combining different styles of genres and personal joy and agony. Safety First! has stumbled onto a uniquely quirky and uplifting sound that will make your foot stomp and heart skip a beat.
Die Wasgoedlyn
It is the freshest thing that has hit South Africa’s music scene. It is an innovation to do nation-building through people that have a passion for creating and living out their talents. They are people that get a kick out of making music, just for the sake of creating, without boundaries, rules or genres keeping them inside a predetermined doctrinal box. On the Misty Water stage, we welcome Die Wasgoedlyn with Churchill Naude, Riku Lâtti and Jackie Lâtti.
Akkedis can be dubbed as the stepchildren of South African Rock ‘n Roll. The infamous Dennis-twins, Arthur and Rudolph, strummed their first chord at the age of 12, after being exposed to everyone from Neil Young to Bob Marley.
When Adrian John Graham joined the group, their sound progressed into the timeless rock sound South Africans have known and enjoyed for over two decades. African, Reggae, Blues, Rock, Folk, Zulu, Afrikaans, English, there’s nothing these boys can’t do.
Double Sun
A 5-piece psychedelic, post punk, blues, rock experience with experimental influences from Pretoria.
The Tazers
The Tazers are a psychedelic rock band from Johannesburg. They are a fan favourite in venues in Pretoria, Joburg and Cape Town. Their latest album, Plastic Kids, can take you on a journey through the night from mushroom top to mushroom top.
Stephen Jonathan is a South African musician and songwriter from Pretoria, who has been active in the music industry for twelve years. Although, he first became known for his incredible guitar skills, Stephen also proved himself as a formidable singer and writer early in his career.
This talented man has formed part of several successful bands/groups, including Stones & Gold (founder, singer, songwriter and guitarist), Jackvalve (guitarist and songwriter), Joshua na die Reën (acoustic guitarist) and Deon Bakkes and the Stolen Horses (rhythm and main guitarist), to name but a few.
Black Water
Black Water is one of the south’s hottest and most entertaining emerging rock bands. Black Water’s sound is a combination of the old and the new, the heavy and the traditional, a mix of rock, southern influences and classic metal all wrapped up together!
Jackal & the wind
Jackal and the Wind is an independent band from Stellenbosch, South Africa. The band has been gaining steady acclaim since its inception in 2013. The band’s whimsical name is reminiscent of the yearning of the jackal and the intangible emotion of a howling wind and pays homage to their wish to whisk their listeners away, to a world without boundaries, by means of their emotive harmonies.
Murray.
These four musicians who all happened to play different instruments (you know… big guitar, small guitar, those barrels you hit), decided to play those instruments together in specific time intervals, based on a recurring pattern of musical notes, accompanied by a rhythmic pronunciation of vocal sounds that were not dissimilar to their spoken languages… classic stuff.
#Sozlol
Needing little introduction, and making up the first half of these deck-wrecking tequila twins, is long-time legend of the SA music industry, Catherine Grenfell.
Unless you’ve been living under a Jacaranda in the Highveld, you’ll most certainly recall the effervescent presence of Catherine on 5FM, and her subsequent evolution to becoming part of the brains behind radio killing video station, The Eye.
Completing the other half of this party-hardy pair, is rum-loving, gin-sipping gypsy, Vicky Jankiewicz, who, much like the medicinal flu-balm of the similar namesake, Vicks Acta-Plus, will leave your chest feeling warm and your breathing easy.
Wielding the singing voice of an angel, and infectious spirit to match, Vicky has had much experience in the many facets of our local music community, from behind the scenes in radio, to social media and many other interesting adventures and misadventures.
Vicky Jankiewicz and Catherine Grenfell will keep the party going as #SOZLOL after all the bands have played.
There you have it the FULL line-up for Misty Waters 2020. We are super stoked for the next 55 days to fly away so that the REAL party can begin.
Misty Waters is going international!! We are so excited to release our third and final artist announcement for Misty Waters Music Festival 2020 that will take place at Lake Umuzi Waterfront in Secunda, Mpumalanga.
All the way from Phoenix, Arizona the KONGOS brothers – Johnny, Jesse, Dylan and Danny – will be visiting their dad in South Africa in April / May 2020 and we have the privilege to have them on the Misty Waters stage. Growing up in London and Johannesburg, these 4 brothers are no strangers to sunny South Africa.
After 9 years of searching for that first break, it finally came in 2011 when “I’m only joking” became a radio smash in South Africa, followed by multiple top 40 hits from their second album “Lunatic” and “Come With Me Now”.
Therefore, it is only fitting that KONGOS come to South Africa, and more specifically to Misty Waters at Lake Umuzi, to launch their new venture KONGOS BEER.
Next up, we have Safety First! combining different styles of genres and personal joy and agony. Safety First! has stumbled onto a uniquely quirky and uplifting sound that will make your foot stomp and heart skip a beat.
Die Wasgoedlyn
It is the freshest thing that has hit South Africa’s music scene. It is an innovation to do nation-building through people that have a passion for creating and living out their talents. They are people that get a kick out of making music, just for the sake of creating, without boundaries, rules or genres keeping them inside a predetermined doctrinal box. On the Misty Water stage, we welcome Die Wasgoedlyn with Churchill Naude, Riku Lâtti and Jackie Lâtti.
Akkedis can be dubbed as the stepchildren of South African Rock ‘n Roll. The infamous Dennis-twins, Arthur and Rudolph, strummed their first chord at the age of 12, after being exposed to everyone from Neil Young to Bob Marley.
When Adrian John Graham joined the group, their sound progressed into the timeless rock sound South Africans have known and enjoyed for over two decades. African, Reggae, Blues, Rock, Folk, Zulu, Afrikaans, English, there’s nothing these boys can’t do.
Double Sun
A 5-piece psychedelic, post punk, blues, rock experience with experimental influences from Pretoria.
The Tazers
The Tazers are a psychedelic rock band from Johannesburg. They are a fan favourite in venues in Pretoria, Joburg and Cape Town. Their latest album, Plastic Kids, can take you on a journey through the night from mushroom top to mushroom top.
Stephen Jonathan is a South African musician and songwriter from Pretoria, who has been active in the music industry for twelve years. Although, he first became known for his incredible guitar skills, Stephen also proved himself as a formidable singer and writer early in his career.
This talented man has formed part of several successful bands/groups, including Stones & Gold (founder, singer, songwriter and guitarist), Jackvalve (guitarist and songwriter), Joshua na die Reën (acoustic guitarist) and Deon Bakkes and the Stolen Horses (rhythm and main guitarist), to name but a few.
Black Water
Black Water is one of the south’s hottest and most entertaining emerging rock bands. Black Water’s sound is a combination of the old and the new, the heavy and the traditional, a mix of rock, southern influences and classic metal all wrapped up together!
Jackal & the wind
Jackal and the Wind is an independent band from Stellenbosch, South Africa. The band has been gaining steady acclaim since its inception in 2013. The band’s whimsical name is reminiscent of the yearning of the jackal and the intangible emotion of a howling wind and pays homage to their wish to whisk their listeners away, to a world without boundaries, by means of their emotive harmonies.
Murray.
These four musicians who all happened to play different instruments (you know… big guitar, small guitar, those barrels you hit), decided to play those instruments together in specific time intervals, based on a recurring pattern of musical notes, accompanied by a rhythmic pronunciation of vocal sounds that were not dissimilar to their spoken languages… classic stuff.
#Sozlol
Needing little introduction, and making up the first half of these deck-wrecking tequila twins, is long-time legend of the SA music industry, Catherine Grenfell.
Unless you’ve been living under a Jacaranda in the Highveld, you’ll most certainly recall the effervescent presence of Catherine on 5FM, and her subsequent evolution to becoming part of the brains behind radio killing video station, The Eye.
Completing the other half of this party-hardy pair, is rum-loving, gin-sipping gypsy, Vicky Jankiewicz, who, much like the medicinal flu-balm of the similar namesake, Vicks Acta-Plus, will leave your chest feeling warm and your breathing easy.
Wielding the singing voice of an angel, and infectious spirit to match, Vicky has had much experience in the many facets of our local music community, from behind the scenes in radio, to social media and many other interesting adventures and misadventures.
Vicky Jankiewicz and Catherine Grenfell will keep the party going as #SOZLOL after all the bands have played.
There you have it the FULL line-up for Misty Waters 2020. We are super stoked for the next 55 days to fly away so that the REAL party can begin.
PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER CONDEMNS THE
BURNING OF CHURCH, HOUSE, AND OTHER PROPERTIES BELONGING TO A LOCAL PASTOR
Nelspruit – The Provincial Commissioner of
the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma
has strongly condemned the torching of a church, vehicles as well as property
belonging to a local Pastor in Acornhoek during the early hours of Monday
morning, 02 March 2020.
Reports indicate that at around 03h30am,
unknown suspects entered the yard of the 63-year-old Pastor and torched two
vehicles as well as damaged windows of his house. At the time, the Pastor and
his wife were still asleep when the wife woke up from some strange noise coming
from people who were shouting. The terrified wife woke her husband up to inform
him that their cars were burning. At the same time, the windows of their house
were also pelted with stones.
The couple quickly ran outside and
witnessed their cars engulfed in flames while some community members were
already in the yard trying to extinguish the fire. Whilst the community was
still trying to extinguish the flames, the Pastor received a call informing him
that his church was also in flames.
Police were notified about the incidents
whereupon cases of arson as well as malicious damage to property were opened
and investigations thereof are underway. Police noticed that there was a
message on the church wall levelling accusations against the church which was
written in graffiti style. The writing, amongst other things accused the church
of raping people but currently, no such allegations of rape can be proven
against the Pastor nor the congregants.
The Provincial Commissioner has called for
a quick arrest of the suspects. “We cannot allow lawlessness to prevail,
where criminals go on rampage and burn buildings, cars and damage other
people’s houses. There are laws in this country, and no one can destroy
property in the name of being wronged or having certain grievances against
other people. When one feels (s)he is being offended, then that person must
report the matter to the relevant authorities. The perpetrators of these cases
must be arrested and face their day in court, ” said General Zuma.
In the meantime, the police call on anyone
with information that can assist in the investigation to call Lieutenant
Colonel Albert Manzini on 0824691031.
Members of the community can also
anonymously call 0860010111 or send SMS’s to 32211.
MYSAPSAPP
can also be downloaded where valuable information can be shared with police and
the information will be treated with strictest confidence.
After a stringent selection and interview process, five deserving youngsters from the Govan Mbeki municipality have been given all-expenses-paid scholarships, valued at R170 000 each, by the Southern Highveld Community Development Trust (SHCDT), a community social investment initiative of Graceland Hotel Casino & Country Club in Secunda to follow their dreams of obtaining a tertiary education.
The group recently travelled to Emperors Palace to attend an induction function and receive their official scholarship letters, much to their delight.
Five lucky local youngsters have each received an all-expenses-paid scholarship this year, valued at over R170 000 each, from the Southern Highveld Community Development Trust (SHCDT), a CSI initiative of Graceland Hotel Casino & Country Club, to follow their dreams of obtaining tertiary education. Here the lucky recipients, in the front, Angel Phakathi, middle, Asakhanya Maseti, Ellen Maseko, Philisiwe Mayaba and at the back, Nhlakanipho Mngomezulu (middle) celebrate this wonderful opportunity with Peermont Human Resources Executive, Fihliwe Molefi (middle right) and two SHCDT Alumni, Mishael Mashele (back left) and Mike Sibeko (back right) at an induction function at Emperors Palace recently. Successful businessmen, Mashele and Sibeko, who attribute much of their success to the opportunities that arose because of the SHCDT scholarships they received, were involved in the selection of the new bursary recipients. (Photograph by Yolanda van der Stoep)
Top learner among the candidates, Nhlakanipho Mngomezulu, who obtained three distinctions when he matriculated from Vukuqhakaze Secondary School at the end of last year, is off to the University of the Witwatersrand to study for his BSc in Electrical Engineering degree.
The 17-year-old, who is one of 10 children, says he chose to study electrical engineering because it is a very broad course comprising of many disciplines and believes he will get exposed to ample opportunities.
When quizzed at the induction event what this scholarship means to him, he commented, “With this bursary, I’ll be able to fully focus on my studies and not worry about finances, so I have no reason to fail and my Mom still can’t believe that she won’t pay a cent towards my studies. It feels great to be granted such an opportunity!”
These feelings were reiterated by Chief Ampie Mayisa Secondary School matriculant, Philisiwe Mayaba (18) who added it (the scholarship) means a lot to her family and she can’t believe it is happening – that she has a fully-funded scholarship to start her BCom Economics and Management Sciences degree studies at the University of Pretoria.
The Leandra youngster, who achieved one distinction in her matric year, then went on to give her reasons for choosing her field of study. “Due to our economy, there is a shortage of resources which prompted me to follow this career path as I want to use research and data analysis to find innovative ways to improve the economy.”
Another of the scholarship recipients who have also selected a career path in which she can contribute to change in society is Thomas Nhlabathi Secondary School matriculant, Asakhanya Maseti (18).
“I’ve chosen to study a BSc in Nursing at the University of Limpopo because I have the passion and love to bring about the change I want to see in healthcare,” says the eMbalenhle resident who lists her attributes as being dedicated, responsible, ambitious and determined, which will certainly stand her in good stead in making a success of her career.
Fellow Thomas Nhlabathi Secondary School matriculant, Angel Phakathi, who also obtained two distinctions last year like Maseti, is off to study LLB Law at the University of KwaZulu Natal thanks to the SHCDT.
“When they informed me that I got the bursary I was so excited because I knew that it was the beginning of my life, while for my family it means everything as they know that I will start this year smoothly and will be mentally fit to study,” the 18-year-old from Kinross commented after getting her scholarship letter.
The goal-driven go-getter, who believes in hard-work has her sights set on fighting gender-based violence and woman and child abuse by becoming a human rights lawyer after her degree.
The fifth recipient, KI Twala Secondary School matriculant Ellen Maseko, feels blessed that she has been included in the SHCDT programme and can now head to Sol Plaatje University to do a BSc Data Science degree without any financial concerns for her or her family.
Being motivated, driven, confident and enjoying challenges the eMbalenhle student says she was inspired to choose this career because there is a demand for people with data science skills and the pay is good.
Apart from having their tuition and accommodation expenses covered, getting their books and a laptop sponsored, the Trust also provides a comprehensive mentorship programme for scholarship recipients to enable them to cope and develop new skills during their time at university. The programme covers study skills, emotional intelligence and employability. Monthly mentorship meetings are also held with the students to ensure that they receive the much-needed socio-psychological support required.
“Over the years we have found that we are able to increase our graduation rate by offering learners additional support throughout the year. To this end the Trust has an impressive 85% graduation rate compared to the national graduation rate of 22%. This is exceptional considering that the learners hail from township schools,” comments Trust Manager, Jenny Findlay.
Apart from the university scholarships, the SHCDT bestows every year to help uplift the community in the Graceland catchment area it (the Trust) also provides the “Go-Getters Programme”. The latter was established to ensure there is a large pool of deserving young people available to benefit from the scholarship offering and improve the chances of learners successfully completing their tertiary studies and becoming economically productive.
In addition, the Trustees fund “Career Dress Up Day” every year where Grade 7 learners research, present and dress up in their chosen career. The day assists learners to make better career choices. The Trust also sponsors an intern programme giving selected young people, from the local TVET Collage, an opportunity to complete the practical component of their qualification.
