CALL TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MAYORAL BURSARY FUND
The Buffalo City Metro is calling on young people in the Metro to take advantage of the study assistance being offered by the Mayoral Bursary Fund.
The Municipality is offering financial assistance to students, in the form of study bursaries for the 2025 academic year. There is less than two weeks left before the application process closes on 31 October 2024.
This is an Executive Mayoral driven initiative which is done as part of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality’s development of human capital, and applications are invited from students of previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
Since inception of the Bursary Fund in 2008, 113 beneficiaries have graduated. The fund also provides beneficiaries with an opportunity to participate in experimental learning placements and internships within the metro.
The Mayoral Bursary Fund has produced a wide range in academia: Doctorates with PhD in Animal Science, Chattered Accountants, Engineers, Architects, Scientists etc.
Most of the graduated BCMM Mayoral Bursary Fund recipients are employed within BCMM region and throughout the Country in different sectors.
Currently, there are three graduates that are permanently employed, two temps, and 14 interns within the Metro.
The bursary fund is intended to assist current or prospective students and it is used towards covering tuition and registration fees, prescribed books, study material, meals, and accommodation.
Successful applicants are expected to study at any accredited South African Tertiary Institution Preferably Eastern Cape based in 2025.
With the background of the high unemployment rate, the Metro is giving preference and more focus on TVET Colleges more than Universities so that we can take a bigger number and produce people with skills that are able to do self-employment.
A few months ago, the Metro held career expos where students were empowered on means of applying and accessing opportunities in various tertiary institutions.
The closing date for applications is 31 October 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by January 2025 for a personal interview.
The following scarce skills are considered, Engineering, Finance, Planning and Economic Services and Science. The identification of pertinent scarce skills is guided by the Directorate: Corporate Services
In addition to the Bursary Fund providing financial assistance, the fund also provides beneficiaries with an opportunity to participate in experiential learning placements and or internships within the Metro without creating an expectation that said beneficiaries would be absorbed as employees within the Metro.
WHO MUST APPLY?
Students must be bona fide residents of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Applicants must:
• Be South African citizens, permanently residing in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
• Have proof of residence when applying for the bursary
• Provide proof of income of their family household
• Be willing to work within Buffalo City after completing their studies.
SELECTION
The student must have a matric with at least a D (50-59%) In English, C (60-69%) in Maths, Accounting and Physical Science or NCV Level 4 certificate with Mathematics.
Selection criteria are based strictly on academic merit and successful applicants can renew their bursaries annually based on their academic performance in the previous year. The bursary fund has a clear bias towards underprivileged individuals and is targeting young people from 14-35 years of age.
The Municipality is committed to advancing Employment Equity including persons with disabilities to apply for the bursary fund.
The City wishes to advise that students are personally responsible for their admission to a tertiary institution.
Certified copies of the following documents must accompany applications.
• Most recent academic record
• South African Identity Document and proof of residency in Buffalo City
• Municipal letter or a letter confirming residency from the ward councilor
Application forms are available at any Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Youth Advisory Centers within the Community Support Centres in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. i.e. Mdantsane Library Complex, Civic Centre in eQonce, Duncan Village Art Centre and East London’s Trust Centre Building 7th floor office number 706.
Completed applications can be hand delivered to East London Trust Centre Building in Oxford street, 7th floor office number 706.
For more information related to the bursary, please contact: Nandi Zikalala on 043 705 1013.
2024-10-21