Durban — The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has transformed the lives of more than 1 000 students by awarding them with scholarships worth more than R50 million.

UKZN awarded more than R50m in scholarships to 1 289 top-performing undergraduate and postgraduate students.

UKZN corporate relations executive director Normah Zondo said of the recipients, the top 82 students received their prestigious awards at the Annual Scholarships Award Ceremony in uMhlanga on Wednesday.

Zondo said of the 82 scholarships awarded, 10 awards were to students who have excelled in sports, while 72 were to students who have excelled in their studies.

She said the 10 students received the UKZN Prestige Sports Scholarship Award for outstanding achievement at international, national or provincial levels in volleyball, cricket, netball, karate, table tennis, basketball and rugby.

Zondo said UKZN awarded scholarships worth a combined R220m to 6 000 undergraduate and postgraduate students over the last five years.

Parents, guardians, family members, educators, school principals, donors, members of the UKZN council, executive management, student leaders, and members of convocation attended the ceremony.

The scholarships are named after South African luminaries and benefactors who have significantly contributed to society.

Retired justice of the Constitutional Court and the last chancellor of the erstwhile University of Durban-Westville, Justice Zak Yacoob, attended the event and presented the Zak Yacoob Scholarship award to Saarisha Govender, who is studying towards a BSc Honours in Physics. The award goes to the best Honours student at the university.

Retired justice of the Constitutional Court and the last chancellor of the erstwhile University of Durban-Westville, Justice Zak Yacoob, attended the event and presented the Zak Yacoob Scholarship award. Here he is with an awardee. Picture: Supplied

Past scholarship recipient Humaaira Moosa, currently completing her MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford, said this year’s awardees have achieved something to be proud of.

“I am sure that, like myself, all of you have experienced failure and challenges on your journey. Moments of uncertainty, confusion and loneliness. Perhaps even despair. From my journey, I have come to realise that it is not despite these failures that we achieve success, but sometimes because of them! Our achievements are all the more sweet when we realise what it has taken to get us here,” Moosa said.

She also said the awarded have a duty and responsibility to do more.

“Identify what needs to be done and let that spur you on. Reflect on your journey, and I am looking forward to seeing what you all go on to achieve,” Moosa said.

At the awards, UKZN Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning Professor Thabo Msibi said the awards reaffirmed the university’s commitment to excellence, adding that investing in its students contributed towards securing a brighter future for the university.

UKZN council chairperson Khomotso Mthimunye said the university’s investment in education reflects its belief in the transformative power of education and the institution’s commitment to supporting the most deserving and outstanding scholars in their academic journeys.

“Each of these scholarship recipients has demonstrated exceptional potential and determination. They are the future leaders, innovators, and change-makers who will drive our society forward. Therefore, tonight, we also celebrate the promise they hold and the impact they will have on the world,” Mthimunye said.

Additionally, the UKZN Scholarships Committee oversees the allocation of university scholarships and merit awards.

The committee facilitates the fair and equitable selection, recognition and distribution of these prestigious awards across all four colleges. This selection is made according to Senate-approved criteria and conditions that align with the university’s vision, mission and strategic goals.

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