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Dr Sibongile Sowazi, Dr Phumeza Kota-Nyati, Denise Long, Hazel Nciweni, Prof Pamela Maseko, Lynn Louw and Cynthia Davies
Formed in 1936 to support and advance opportunities for women at the time, the Club has formed an integral part of not only women’s empowerment but also community upliftment for more than eight decades.
However, unable to pay its monthly municipality rate, and a drop in membership led to the PEWC selling its assets, including a building in Summerstrand that was sold to the University in 2022.
Despite that, the Club has continued its legacy by ploughing back a donation of R2.5 million, drawn from the sale of its assets, back to the institution to reward deserving South African female students with a fully-funded bursary.
The University’s Strategic Resource Mobilisation and Advancement (SRMA) office facilitates such donations in aid of students’ studies, with the official handover having taken place on 29 October 2024 at the University’s Ocean Sciences Campus.
Professor Pamela Maseko, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, said “the PEWC’s contribution is a testament to its members’ dedication to fostering an enduring impact on future generations, as well as a show of unwavering support for women’s education.
She added that the first bursary disbursement from this fund, which supports a master’s in Oceanography (MPhil in Maritime Studies) student is a milestone for the University.
“It is a moment that underscores the critical role women will play in solving pressing global challenges, from climate change to sustainable resource management, this investment honours the University’s mission to nurture leaders who embody Nelson Mandela’s values of equity, courage, and service,” said Prof Maseko.
Hazel Nciweni expressed her gratitude for being the bursary’s first recipient and how it was not just a form of financial assistance for her.
“This bursary represents an investment in my future, and an opportunity to strive for success in a field where women continue to break boundaries. It also empowers me to pursue my goals with much determination, and to uplift my community,” said Hazel.
Dr Sibongile Sowazi, Director of Bursaries and Scholarships at Mandela University’s SRMA office, said the fulfilling moment signified the beginning of a major project that began in 2022.
“This bursary donation is in line with our philosophy of ‘access and success’. No academically deserving student should ever be excluded because of their financial position, so this initiative is transformative and echoes our namesake’s words of education being the most powerful weapon to change the world,” he said.
“Such initiatives also drive South Africa forward as being among the leading countries in knowledge generation”.
Reflecting on PEWC’s eight decades of existence, chairperson Denise Long said that although it was sad that the Club, which had become an important part of their lives, was closing; paying it forward to deserving young women spoke to PEWC’s core values of women empowerment.
She added that she hoped that future recipients of the bursary will be able to follow their desired career path without limitations.
Dean of Learning and Teaching, Dr Phumeza Kota-Nyati, said being awarded a scholarship is significant in the present context, where postgraduate studies cost between R22 000 to R50 000 depending on the programme and its requirements.
“This bursary extends the pool of postgraduate students in our University and nationally, increasing what has been exclusive to 1 to 2% of the general population, to normalising being educated,” said Dr Kota-Nyati.
Dr Kota-Nyati added that pursuing a postgraduate degree is no mean fit; however, the University has a strong buffer for its students through the support provided by the research and other support offices, which serve to produce well-rounded graduates.