For the second year running, the City of Johannesburg is partnering with South Africa's top ICT service providers to award 20 matric high achievers. The scholars from adverse backgrounds will start their tertiary education with more than they ever dreamed.
At an awards ceremony held on 4 February at the Mayor's Reception, the scholars received new laptops, tablets and smartphones. They were also awarded R5 000 towards their textbooks and R5 000 towards their registration fees. The idea came from local ward councillors who approached MMC Corporate and Shared Services, Mally Mokoena, to initiate the programme last year.
"These are children that come from such adverse backgrounds - many of them live in shacks, their parents cannot afford school fees - but they performed so well. So I thought, why can't we, as the politicians who go to the schools to motivate them to study, support them when they do achieve," Mokena explained.
Tumelo Kganane, Head of IT at the City of Johannesburg, said: "It was incredible to see how ICT companies heeded our call to sponsor these scholars. We're able to make a difference to the lives of 20 children because of the service providers that have partnered with us."
One of the companies on-board is ICT services and solutions company StorTech. "Empowering 15 of the selected achievers with laptops is a great contribution that we can make to those who hold the future of our country in their hands," commented Christopher Sebecho, managing executive, public sector and state-owned companies.
"We work closely with government," he said. "This collaboration helps us to look at specific public sector needs and determine the most appropriate technologies for more effective citizen service delivery." StorTech is listed as one of the top BBEEE companies in ICT. For this reason, StorTech is able to provide the public sector with sustainable ICT solutions to drive productivity and modernisation efficiencies, to deliver economic growth for all across South Africa.
"Today's scholars will lead the future of our country and we want to help them do that. These scholars all come from adverse backgrounds and had to study under very difficult conditions, and yet they excelled. StorTech congratulates them and COJ for continuing to honour and reward excellence in scholars who are dedicated to their studies."
With an overall aggregate of 82%, Boitumelo More from Mphethimahlatsi Secondary School, said: "It feels great to be recognised for all the effort I put in through matric. I tried my best - every morning I woke up early to study before school. I attended extra classes over the weekends," said More.
Lesego Matlape attended Raymond Mhlaba School in Tshepisong. She was orphaned in 2011 when she lost both her parents - an experience she doesn't want to recall. But she said: "The loss of my parents motivated me to do more and to study harder. I can say I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my own hard work and dedication at school." Matlape has enrolled at Wits University to study a BSC in Electrical Engineering.
Handing over the awards in front of an audience of scholars, parents, teachers, principals, ward councils and members of the mayoral committee, Executive Mayor Parks Tau said: "We need to change the perception that schooling ends at Grade 12 and tertiary education is optional. Completing matric is just one step in the journey to developing our knowledge and skills throughout life. We all need to continue our studies, for self-development and to contribute to society.
"Always remain a student in one form or another. There is no point at which you can say, 'I am done learning'," was the message from the mayor, who is currently pursuing a master's degree.
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