MBSA in R9m bursary deal

Women to benefit at three universities

MOTOR-manufacturing giant Mercedes-Benz South Africa has invested more than R9-million in bursaries for young, disadvantaged black women with “excellent” academic records who are currently studying at three universities in the country.

MBSA sealed the multimillionrand deal at their East London plant yesterday morning with representatives from Rhodes University, the University of Fort Hare and Wits University in attendance.

The three institutions each received an equal share from the R9.5-million to cover tuition costs for engineering, commerce and information technology students.

The amount will also cover books and stationery.

MBSA divisional manager Gladstone Mtyoko said: “We are in a very competitive industry and the higher you climb the corporate ladder, the fewer and fewer women on the way to the top, which is what we want to change.

“We want to see transformation and that is why we have selected to fund women in the career fields which are of importance to the company, because we may enrol them into other programmes we have and even employ them in the future.

“This is something new for us, the first of its kind, and we want to see how it will come along and maybe it’s something we could do annually – or even continue to pay for the entire qualifications for deserving candidates,” he said. Rhodes University’s dean of commerce, Professor Dave Sewry, said the investment by MBSA opened many doors to the youth.

“We have a long-standing relationship with MBSA through management and leadership courses, but this cements what we have been doing – empowering young women who exude potential from disadvantaged communities.

“The students have a renewed energy for studying, their ambitions have come alive because they see hope to one day work for the big company,” he said.

Sewry said MBSA had raised the bar by extending their funding to the Johannesburg-based institution, Wits Business School.

“An immense strain and burden has been lifted from so many families and the students have no excuse but to focus on their studies because a large portion of their study expenses have been taken care of,” he said.

Wits’ education director Devan Naicker said a wide gap had been minimised by the funding.

“It’s exciting being at the plant to see how everything works and where the massive economy of the country is generated and where our students get to work.”

The deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs at Fort Hare University, Professor Larry Obi, said the programme was encouraging.

“We are very fortunate to have been among the institutions selected because we have students from poverty-stricken areas who are determined to make something of themselves and change their family circumstances.

“Those are the ones who have grabbed this opportunity with both hands, and we know they will not disappoint,” he said. —