In its quest to address the challenge of access to education, among many other challenges, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) is calling South African young people who intend to study at registered Universities and Universities of Technology to apply for the Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund for the 2018 academic year.
The NYDA established the Scholarship Fund in honour of Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu who at the age of 23, was executed under the apartheid laws after being wrongfully accused of murder and terrorism. Fearing crowd reaction at the funeral, police decided to bury Mahlangu in Atteridgeville, Pretoria.
The scholarship fund is designed to create an environment for affording youth with excellent academic background, an opportunity to further their studies. Financial support will be provided to youth who pursue full time degrees that fall within the priority growth sectors, critical and scarce skills areas outlined in the labor planning frameworks of the country.
The Scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, meals & study books. For the 2018 Academic year, only degree studies at public Universities and Universities of Technology will be considered. This does NOT include TVET colleges.
Objectives of The Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund:
- To provide financial support to youth in the form of scholarships to increase their chances of accessing quality higher education in their field of study
- To increase chances of employability or entrepreneurship based on the positive correlation between level of education and employability
- To establish the largest scholarship programme in the country, which will enable youth to study at local public universities and universities of technology
- Empower the youth (14-35) with education to enable them to compete favourably in the labor market.
- Contribute to the development of critical and scarce skills
The following eligibility criteria will apply:
- Students must be applying for admission to one of the public universities as a 1st year full-time student in a priority study (see below).
- High school learners who plan to attend one of the public universities or university of technology after completing the National Senior Certificate
- Must meet University Admission Points Score (APS) and achieve an average of 70% in the NSC exams
- Must be South African citizens between 14 – 35
- Financial neediness – combined household salary of less than R15 000 a month
- Reside in rural/semi-rural areas
How to apply
Applications open on 18 September 2017 and close on 16 January 2018.