On Tuesday, 1 November, EST Sourcing had the pleasure of meeting Majuba TVET College: Open Learning Unit Campus Manager, Mr Naveen Lakhan and Head of Department, Mr Bongani Nthombela at the college to discuss the progress of our 14 bursars attending the college. The meeting was fruitful as they explained that at Open Learning Unit (OLU), learners are granted a second chance at completing their studies and are offered support through contact learning sessions. This ensures that the students are equipped to perform well in their studies and are eligible to be reintegrated into the main campuses where they are on par with their peers. These students may have also lost their NSFAS funding, confidence in themselves, and a passion for their studies. The representatives of the college expressed their gratitude to MaxProf and EST Sourcing reiterating how important it is for the students to acquire funding for their schooling and living expenses as it gives them an opportunity to focus on their studies and worry less about basic needs to survive. The college and students expressed their gratitude for the bursaries totalling R 79,000 which were invested in youths studying various Engineering and Business Studies qualifications.
EST Sourcing’s next stop was the Amajuba District Municipality’s offices to interview the Executive Mayor, Cllr Vuselwa V. Bam. Accompanied by two of our bursars, Miss Gcinile Havegirl Kubheka and Miss Nelisiwe Queen Mkhabela, we were welcomed by the Executive Mayor’s PA, Ms Nondumiso Mhlungu to the Mayor’s executive boardroom where we set-up for the interview.
The Mayor graciously welcomed everyone present and introduced EST Sourcing and MaxProf to the Speaker of Council, Cllr Siphamandla Zulu, Chief Whip of Council, Cllr Andile Nkosi and the Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Thulani Dube. The Mayor took the time to get to know our bursars and understand thedifferentcircumstances that they come from. After learning the circumstances surrounding the students’ enrolment at OLU campus due to being unsuccessful at the mainstream campus, the Mayor explained,
This bursary programme is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them to complete their studies without any debt.
– Executive Mayor, Cllr Bam
Cllr Bam had a heart-to- heart with the bursars, giving them motherly advice on the importance of seizing the opportunities that they’re afforded and working hard to return to their main campuses.
Following the heart-warming moment with the bursars, the Mayor was enthusiastic to commence the interview. She acknowledged and commended MaxProf and EST Sourcing for setting a benchmark, by making a difference and assisting the youth from the Amajuba District Municipality. She called on private sector companies to work with the public sector to meet the triple-bottom-line by not only meeting their own financial targets, and assisting municipalities, but by also making an investment in our youth’s skills development, especially once the academic year commences.
This investment will assist in moving the district forward by educating youth with the right scarce skills and by contributing to the growth of the municipality as a whole.
