Ten academically deserving students were awarded bursaries by the development and alumni relations office on Thursday, 5 April 2017, during an event held at the Rendezvous Restaurant.

The students who received the bursary were unfunded by NSFAS in 2015 and 2016 due to lack of availability of funds. These students were chosen by their respected departments and the criterion was based on their academic records.

Alumni Relations Coordinator, Zandi Ndlovu said the event was not only to award bursaries to the student but to also thank all staff donors. “The event is for us to celebrate these hardworking students and the staff for their humanity. We are also hoping to encourage more DUT staff members to contribute towards the bursary fund,” she said.
The bursary fund is divided into three parts which are food security programmes, bursary funds and the alumni bursary funds.

The recipients were from the department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, Information Technology, Analytical Chemistry and Horticulture who are either in their second level of study or completing their studies.

Final year Information Technology student, Philani Nkuna, who has been raised by a single unemployed parent, said when he was told that there were no funds to pay towards his studies, his life was shattered. “When NSFAS sent me their message stating that I was unfunded, I thought I will never see my graduation or complete my studies but because of my academic performance and the recognition from my department, my details were submitted to the Development and Alumni Department and I was notified that my outstanding debt will be paid, that this brought a whole new light of hope into my life,” said Nkuna.

Pictured: Bursary recipients and DUT staff who contributed towards their education.

Sthabile Gwala