The City of Cape Town has awarded bursaries to 30 students from communities across the metro, supporting studies in fields aligned to the City’s identified scarce skills needs.
The bursaries, awarded by the City’s Corporate Services Directorate, aim to create opportunities for young people to further their education in critical disciplines that support the future growth and sustainability of the city.
Successful candidates will pursue studies in key fields including Engineering, Geo Informatics, Project Management, Architecture, Data Science, Occupational Therapy, Marine Science, Supply Chain Management, Psychology, GIS, Technology and Law.
The programme forms part of the City’s broader strategy to address skills shortages in essential sectors while empowering young residents to build meaningful careers.
“Our vision is to create life-changing opportunities for young residents who will become the dynamic leaders our city will need in the future. These bursary recipients represent the next generation of qualified professionals who will contribute to Cape Town’s growth and development,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys.
Recipients come from communities across Cape Town including Kraaifontein, Strandfontein, Athlone, Atlantis, Lotus River, Kuils River, Khayelitsha, Grassy Park, Belhar, Somerset West, Lansdowne, Bo-Kaap, Pinelands, Goodwood, Maitland, Parklands, Langa, Milnerton and Ottery.
Among the recipients is Ayabonga Mbinyashe, a 19-year-old from Kraaifontein who is studying statistics and data science at the University of Cape Town. He described receiving the bursary as a dream come true, providing peace of mind and allowing him to focus fully on his academic goals. He hopes to use his skills to contribute to society and potentially work for the City one day.
Mihle Manana, a 19-year-old from Strandfontein, said the bursary represents an investment in her future and motivates her to achieve her Bachelor of Applied Science degree with distinction.
Kaitlin van der Bijl, a 21-year-old from Somerset West, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to complete her degree, noting her passion for understanding systems and using knowledge to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
The City departments set to benefit from these skills include Energy, Spatial Planning and Environment, Water and Sanitation, Human Settlements, Finance and Corporate Services.
By investing in education aligned to scarce skills, the City continues to build capacity for long-term service delivery while empowering young people to shape their futures.
