Soweto’s Ramatsobane Annah Sekele named 2026 The Glen Bursary Winner

Ramatsobane Annah Sekele was announced as this year’s The Glen Bursary winner, a moment she describes as life-changing and meaningful.

Reflecting on her background, Sekele shared that while she was still in primary school, she relocated to Limpopo to live with her aunt as her mother had to travel in search of employment, leaving no one to look after her. She remained in Limpopo for seven years.

She came back to Soweto when she started high school, describing it as the best decision she has ever made.

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“I am where I am today because of Forte Secondary School in Dobsonville. The school shaped me in many ways. The opportunities and exposure you receive there are rare, especially for a township school.

“Attending top achievers’ camps and participating in the Representative Council of Learners elections built my confidence and leadership skills, and those experiences exposed me to the opportunities I have today,” she said.

Sekele is the middle child and only daughter in a family of three. She grew up in Jabulani with a stable and nurturing upbringing, largely guided by her mother.

She said growing up wasn’t that hard because she had a hardworking mother who made sure they had everything they needed. It wasn’t luxurious, but all the basics were covered.

Sekele matriculated in 2025.

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“My matric journey was a rollercoaster of emotions, and there were many tears. I’m competitive, so when things don’t go my way, I cry it out and then pick myself up.

“Despite all the pressure, I managed to maintain an average above 82% throughout the year, with my highest mark being 86%. I was especially proud of my maths result, which had caused me the most stress because of university requirements,” she said.

She explained that her final exams were not as difficult as she had expected, thanks to the tough trial exams and thorough preparation.

She recalled the confidence she felt after writing business studies, describing it as truly a win against the odds.
Sekele said she learnt about The Glen Bursary through an Instagram advert and decided to apply, mainly because she needed funding for her first year at university.

She said she simply took a leap of faith and had even forgotten that she had applied when they called her for an interview.

“I was surprised to learn I had made it into the top 10 candidates and later became the first winner of the bursary. It means a lot, especially as funding is difficult to find. Even though it doesn’t cover everything, the most important part is that it takes care of my tuition fees,” she said.

Sekele will be studying at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Auckland Park campus, and has enrolled in a Bachelor of Accounting Science, which leads to the chartered accountant route.

The Glen Shopping Centre said the bursary is part of its commitment to being the heart of the community and supporting young people beyond retail.

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Marketing manager Jess Denner explained that the initiative was created to help remove financial barriers to education.

“Education is so important. It creates our future leaders but is often met with challenges that require financial support to make a dream career even possible, and that’s why we decided to help someone overcome this by offering financial aid in the form of a bursary,” she said.

Denner added that Sekele stood out because of her academic excellence and clear vision for her future.
She said her matric results were astonishing. Her commitment and dedication to her studies earned her distinctions in her matric year, and her vision and plans for the future were truly commendable.

The Glen has confirmed that the bursary would continue, with the next competition launching in October for the matric class of 2026.