Students of bursary programme get honoured

Recipients of the Southern Highveld Community Development Trust (SHCDT), a CSI initiative of Graceland Casino, Hotel and Country Club, who graduated between 2018 and 2024, received accolades on October 12.

These 16 recipients received recognition for their academic achievements at a graduation ceremony held at Emperors Palace.

Some of these graduates who hailed from eMbalenhle include Maxwell Nxumalo who attained a BEng in Chemical Engineering in 2018; Lerato Buthelezi who passed her BSc Biological Science degree in 2019; Sandile Kunene who graduated with a BSc in Electrical Engineering in 2020; and Reginald Maloka who achieved his MBBCH and is a member of the class of 2022.

All these students studied at Wits University.

Other students who received accolades included Philisiwa Luvuno, who is part of the Class of 2023 and obtained her Bcom Law at the University of Johannesburg; Asakhanya Maseti who achieved her BSc in Nursing at the University of Limpopo and Ellen Maseko who finished her Bachelor of Science in Data Science at Sol Platjie University.

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All these students are from eMbalenhle. The Bethal students, who were honoured, included Nicole Mapea and Mlungisi who were part of the Class of 2023 in BSc Mathematics and BEng in Chemical Engineering respectively from the University of Pretoria.

Angel Phakathi from Kinross was also honoured as she was also part of the class of 2023 with her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Another Kinross resident, Phindile Gule completed her BSc in Environment Health from the Tshwane University of Technology.

Philisiwe Mayaba from Leslie now holds a Bcom Economics and Management Science degree from the University of Pretoria and was also honoured at the event.

Another Leslie resident, Sthembiso Mtsweni, passed his Bachelor of Commerce in Finance in 2021 at Wits University. Gugulethu Khumalo from Standerton was also recognised as part of the Class of 2021.

She obtained a Bachelor of Accounting Sciences at the University of Johannesburg, while Nomfundo Madonsela of Sakhile who was a Bachelor of Arts in Law degree student at Wits University was also recognised.

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Charlene Ludick, Graceland’s General Manager, said: “The SHCDT was established with a simple yet profound mission: to uplift the youth of our community by providing access to quality education, which we believe is the foundation of a brighter, more prosperous future.

“Since awarding our first bursary to Mike Sibeko in 2000 for BCom Accounting, the trust has grown in scope and impact. Today, we are proud to have supported more than 80 beneficiaries who have ventured into diverse fields of study, including engineering, health sciences, and education, among others.”

She added this year alone, 11 university students from the Gert Sibande region are furthering their studies through the trust’s financial and moral support.

“The impact of this initiative goes far beyond numbers. What we see unfolding before us is the beginning of generational change. Through the SHCDT, we are investing not only in individual students but in the future of families and entire communities.

“These bursaries are opening doors for young people who might not otherwise pursue higher education, giving them the tools to break cycles of poverty, expand their horizons, and contribute meaningfully to society.”