Two students enrolled for the Bachelor of Education: FET Specialization received R60 000 each from the Dr Neville Alexander Language Scholarship.
Nothukela Mnyeka and Siphenathi Qumbelo were selected from the top ten first-year BEd: FET Specialization students majoring in isiXhosa at CPUT and had to compete with students from other universities.
Since it was established in 2013, this is the first time that CPUT students benefitted from the scholarship which is only awarded to South African students.
Established by PanSALB to provide financial support to students who are advancing their studies in African languages, the scholarship encourages academic interests in disciplines that promote multilingualism and mother tongue education at all levels of learning.
Lecturer Zakhile Somlata says that to ensure that CPUT made an impression to the scholarship’s adjudicators, the students’ applications were prepared in conjunction with CPUT’s Institutional Language Co-ordinator, Dr Monwabisi Ralarala.
“This opportunity should be grabbed with both hands as it is a good start which has paved the way for more students to be awarded in the future, especially those from disadvantaged communities,” says Somlata.
Head of the Department, Mogamat Marlie, commended Somlata for initiating the application process with PanSALB.
“I congratulate the winners for flying CPUT’s flag high, as they competed against other universities,” says Marlie.
Alexander was a vocal proponent of multilingualism in the post-apartheid South Africa who passed away in 2012 at 75 years of age. Due to his commitment to the promotion of the use and development of indigenous languages, PanSALB commemorated him by naming its scholarship after this major advocate of linguistic diversity.
Written by Kwanele Butana
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