Making a Difference: Raising Money for Unlocking Futures Bursaries

UCT DVC’s Cycle for Change: Raising Funds to Help Students with fee Debt

UCT’s Deputy Vice Chancellor’s Prof Jeff Murugan and Prof Brandon Collier-Reed saw the Cape Town Cycle Tour as an opportunity to raise funds to help students struggling with tuition fee debt.

The Cape Town Cycle Tour is a test of endurance and a personal milestone in one of the world’s most scenic cities.   Through their participation, they championed the “Unlocking Futures Bursaries” initiative, a campaign dedicated to alleviating the financial burden of students who are unable to graduate due to outstanding debt. Read about their pedal for a cause here.  We would like to challenge as many of our alumni as possible to take part in the challenge for next year!

Leaving a Legacy

Judge Philip Alan Mendell Magid left a wonderful legacy bequest to UCT, to support university priorities.  Alan was born in Durban on 24 May 1929, the son of a prominent attorney and concert singer. He matriculated at 16 from Durban High School and pursued his BA LLB at UCT. Magid had a long and illustrious legal career. He was admitted as an attorney in 1953 and practiced as a notary and conveyancer for more than two decades. After becoming a non-executive director of a listed public company in 1973, Magid returned to the legal world and “took the silk” after just six years in July 1981, a remarkably short time in which to attain this feat.

After 16 years as an advocate, he was appointed to the Bench on 1 March 1991, where he worked tirelessly until retiring on his 75th birthday. After his retirement, Magid, who was known for his love of history and sense of humour, worked as a volunteer guide at the Durban Holocaust & Genocide Centre. Magid also gave generously of his time to the broader community. He was a member of the Council of Natal Law Society from 1965 and vice-president from 1971 until retirement, as well as honorary life vice-president of the KwaZulu-Natal Tennis Association and a trustee of the KZN Performing Arts Trust. Magid volunteered for Tape Aids for the Blind and worked as an honorary consultant for the Legal Resources Centre.

His legacy will have a huge impact.

Giving at UCT

The lives of students are often transformed dramatically by the impact of donors and we thought we would share a few of their stories below:

In thanking Australian donors, physiotherapist Lehlohonolo Tserere, who did his community service year at Settlers Hospital in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape, aptly said, “It was not just a financial donation. It was funding my dream to do what I love and most importantly take my place in this world as well, and for that I thank you. This does not only benefit myself, but my community as a whole.

Beneficiary Dr Gabrielle Leong (MBChB 2023), summed up the immediate and ongoing effects of donor impact to her, “ acts of kindness, such as that which you have shown me, are a beacon of light to those around us and I genuinely believe there will be a ripple effect of your donations, not just to me, but to others that you support.  I know that I for one, vow to pay it forward to allow the next generation the opportunity to make a difference in this world”.

Lechesa Nqosa (BScEng Mechanical Engineering) commented how the financial support has given him fresh hope and inspiration to keep working towards his educational objectives.  He said, “I can concentrate on my studies without having to constantly worry about accruing bills because of your wonderful selfless deed”.

 

Skye Foundation: rewarding high-achieving South African students with opportunities for postgraduate study abroad for 28 years.

The Skye Foundation has been awarding scholarships to high-achieving students based on outstanding academic achievement in any discipline, for 28 years.  These awards celebrate excellence across all fields at South African universities with a proven record of quality research. Of the total of 400 awards made over the years, a third have been from UCT. The feedback from universities such as Cambridge and Oxford is that the South African students have been superbly prepared for overseas study and indicate UCT as a marker of excellence.

“The recipients of the scholarship are an extraordinary group of people who have succeeded at such a wide range of fields, from mathematics, science, music, engineering to drama. They have thrived and gone on to achieve distinctions, accolades and fulfil important roles in business, government, healthcare and academia in South Africa and throughout the world”, commented Dr Neville Passmore of the foundation. To read about the impact of this foundation and the amazing quality of South African scholars, read here.