KUGOMPO– The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) Executive Mayor Cllr Princess Faku on Tuesday handed over bursaries to 81 young people during a ceremony held at the East London Golf Course at KuGompo City(formerly known as East London).
The event marked the official awarding of bursaries for the 2026 academic year and the renaming of the Mayoral Bursary Fund in honour of the late Ntombikayise ‘Kayise‘ Tom former MMC for Corporate Services and Deputy Chairperson of the Dr W.B. Rubusana Region.
Addressing beneficiaries and their families, Cllr. Faku said the programme gives practical expression to the Freedom Charter’s declaration that “the doors of learning and culture shall be opened.”
“For us, this is not just a ceremony. It is an investment in the future of our Metro and our country,” she said.
Furthermore the 2026 academic year, BCMM awarded 81 bursaries, comprising 32 new beneficiaries and 49 returning students.
The Municipality received 319 applications, with successful candidates selected following a shortlisting and interview process.
Established in 2008, the Mayoral Bursary Fund has supported hundreds of young people from across Buffalo City.
According to the Municipality, 138 beneficiaries have graduated since the programme’s inception. Of those, six are permanently employed within BCMM, two are on temporary contracts and 12 are currently serving as interns. The fund prioritises scarce and critical skills, including Engineering, Finance, Planning and Science-related fields which are considered vital to the Metro’s development and sustainability.
In addition to covering tuition, accommodation, meals, textbooks and study materials, the programme also provides beneficiaries with access to experiential learning and internship opportunities within the Municipality.
The Executive Mayor commended the Bursary Fund Committee, led by Councillor Mayihlome Mcako, for ensuring fairness and transparency in the selection process.
A highlight of the ceremony was the official renaming of the bursary fund in honour of Kayise Tom, who passed away in 2024. Faku described Tom as a committed public servant and lifelong learner.
“With a BSc Honours degree in Analytical Chemistry and further qualifications in municipal governance and leadership, she believed deeply in empowerment through education,” Cllr. Faku said.
She added that renaming the fund was a tribute to Tom’s dedication to public service and youth development. Members of the Tom family attended the ceremony, which the Municipality described as both proud and emotional.
BCMM reaffirmed its commitment to education and youth empowerment, describing the bursary fund as a long-term investment in building a capable and skilled society.
Photographs: BCMM/Supplied
