This year, a record number of deserving Ekurhuleni youngsters have been awarded all-expenses-paid scholarships, valued at over R170 000 each, by the Peermont Education Trust (PET) and the Peermont Community Benefit Trust (PCBT) – social investment initiatives supported by Emperors Palace – to pursue their dreams of obtaining tertiary education.
After over 1 000 applications were received and a stringent selection and interview process took place at the beginning of this year, 18 candidates were selected for the scholarship Class of 2026.
In addition, 27 students already in the PET/PCBT scholarship programme from previous years also had their bursaries extended, which will enable them to continue their studies, bringing the total number of scholarship recipients to 45.
Much to the delight of the new recipients, they received their scholarship letters, laptops and education packs when they attended an induction ceremony at the Palace of Dreams recently.
Addressing the students, their families, current bursars and guests from the Department of Education and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality before inducting the beneficiaries,
Peermont HR Executive and head of CSI, Fihliwe Molefi, said, “At Peermont, we have always understood a hard truth: talent is distributed equally, but opportunity is not. There is a gap between who you are today and who you are destined to become. Our mission, through our Education Trusts, is to be the bridge that closes that gap.
“Delivering graduates is about the journey. A bridge is useless if it only goes halfway. We don’t just fund your first year; we walk the entire span with you. We provide the tuition, the books, and the mentorship to ensure that when you step off the other side, you do so with a degree in your hand. Changing futures is the destination.
“When one person in a family crosses this bridge, they never go back alone. You pull your family, your community, and the next generation across with you.”
Among the Class of 2026 is Boikgantsho Thokwane, who is thrilled that he now has the opportunity to follow his dream of studying a BSc in Computer Science degree at the University of the Witwatersrand after matriculating from Springs Secondary School with four distinctions.
Another Springs Secondary matriculant, who achieved two distinctions and is now also a Wits student happily doing her BSc in Biological Sciences degree, is Tsakane’s Lungelo Msipha.
Joining them at Wits is another Springs resident who finished school last year at Sunward Park High School with four distinctions, Nomndeni Zwane, who has started her BSc in Biological Sciences degree.
Springs Boys High School alumnus S’lindokuhle Hlatywayo is at UJ doing his third-year BCom in Accounting. Peermont Trust chairperson Tshidi Madima also had a message for the new members of the Peermont Trust family.
“You are not only beneficiaries, but you will now be ambassadors of this prestigious scholarship programme; your ambassadorship starts today.
“Your continued resilience, tenacity, responsibility and independence will be tested. As you continue your educational journey, remember that this recognition comes with the expectations that you will use your knowledge, skills and talents to make a meaningful difference in the world. This is not just a reward for past achievement but a commitment to future impact.
“We hope that this scholarship will brighten your pathway ahead of you. This journey may be arduous, but it is true grit and determination that propel you closer to success.
“I encourage you to continue striving for excellence. Stay curious, humble, and determined. Let this scholarship be both a celebration of how far you have come and a reminder of how far you can go. As Benjamin Franklin once said: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Apart from having their tuition and accommodation expenses covered and getting their books, a laptop and a stipend, the Trust also provides a comprehensive mentorship programme for scholarship recipients.
This is to enable them to cope and develop new skills during their time at university. The programme covers study skills, emotional intelligence and employability with monthly mentorship meetings to ensure that they receive the much-needed socio-psychological support required to increase their chances of graduating.
As part of the programme, regular workshops are also held with all this year’s scholarship recipients having already attended their first workshop last month to get them set for the academic year.
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