Making the best of limited means

UNIVERSITY of the Western Cape student Patricia Hector would not have been able to study this year had it not been for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme bursary she received.

Hector, who lives in Mitchells Plain and is completing a BA degree at the university, said her parents were pensioners who depended on their pensions to keep their household running.

“I knew that my parents would not be able to cover the cost of my university fees, which led me to apply for a NSFAS bursary,” she said.

Aside from her qualification, she said she wanted to live a meaningful life inspiring a new generation born into townships to excel against the odds.

Kagisho Mamabolo, spokesman for the NSFAS, said 3 650 students from UCT received bursaries amounting to R182 074 798 last year.

Close to 9 281 students from the Cape Peninsula University Technology (CPUT) received bursaries amounting to R304 292 895 last year.

A total of 2 111 students from the University of Stellenbosch were recipients of a NSFAS bursary last year, totalling R127 289 548.

A further 5 512 students from UWC received bursaries amounting to R216 114 352 last year.

Namhla Ntantiso is another needy student who said without the help of an NSFAS bursary he would not have been able to pursue his dream of becoming the best hydrologist South Africa has had.

Ntantiso, originally from Qumbu in the Eastern Cape, decided to study at UWC because he said it was one of the best in the country.

He also wanted to leave the Eastern Cape to gain life experience.

Ntantiso, who is pursuing a BSc in environmental and water science, comes from a very poor family.

“My mother didn’t have money to fund my studies because she is unemployed and she makes ends meet by doing part-time jobs. I applied for an NSFAS bursary because I wanted to study so I could be a better person.”

mika.williams@inl.co.za