As businessman and women gathered and dined at Elangeni Hotel this evening, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Dr Zweli Mkhize reminded them that the road to a prosperous, free and growing South Africa starts with helping the one student who needs financial support in order to meet his or her dream.
“You do not have to be a CEO of a multi-national company but the willingness to make a contribution is enough to make a change in the lives of our young people,” Premier Mkhize told the seventy businessman and woman who gathered at a dinner organised by the MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, to introduce the idea of a District based Financial Assistance Programme to supplement the Department of Health’s bursary programme.
The Premier said the province of KwaZulu-Natal cannot continue to be known for all the wrong reasons such as high HIV disease, a violent past as well as a high TB disease burden. He said government alone cannot usher the bright future that everyone wishes for the country and called on everyone to play a role in the implementation of his government’s ‘Sukuma Sakhe Programme’.
The Premier told the gathering: “South Africa has a virtue that we all must leverage; the capacity to do good. Each one of us can make a huge difference by encouraging young people to work towards their dreams.”
The diner attracted a number of prominent business people who are already helping students from the various areas of KwaZulu-Natal. Among those present was; Mr Sizwe Nxasana and his wife Dr Judy Dlamini of Mkhiwa Trust who are currently helping a fifth year medical student from Sisonke District, Dr Mduduzi Gama who is helping a six students including an Correctional Service inmate who did well in the 2010 matric examinations, Ms Hlengiwe Hlophe and her partner Mr Mike Mjiyakho owners of the Ukwanda Farm who are helping 21 students in various institutions plus four medical students currently at University of KwaZulu-Natal mainly from uThukela District as well as Mr Nkosinathi Chonco who contributed R20 000 towards the education of students from Umgungundlovu District.
The Mkhiwa Trust intends to also increase the number of black African and Coloured chartered accountants. “Mkhiwa trust supports four black students studying towards Chartered Accountancy through the fund,” said Mr Sizwe Nxasana at the diner. “This costs around R120, 000 per annum. It’s an ongoing project that the family has supported for more than four years. The recognition we received today inspires us, and hopefully everyone here, to do more.”
The initiative that the MEC wishes to start will be along the lines of the uMthombo Fund operating from uMkhanyakude. The fund currently assists 150 students in the various universities studying towards a health profession. Speaking about their uMthombo Fund, Dr Gavin McGregor said; “It is not enough that you pay for the school fees, you also need to have a mentorship programme to encourage these young people to do well in school.”
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