Nobathembu Mpetsheni was born in the Eastern Cape, in Mdantsane.  Due to her excellent academic performance and disadvantaged background, she obtained a bursary from African Scholars Fund.

Patience Nombeko Mbava was born and bred in Guguletu. Although she started her high school career at ID Mkhize High School, she matriculated from Isilimela Comprehensive School In Langa, Cape Town.

Sitembele James was funded by ASF during his high school days (2005-2006): I write to you to thank you so much for the great work that you are doing. I can now look back and say “I am because you are”.

I am Simphiwe Plessie, I resided in Khayelitsha, Site-B – Cape Town. The ASF have provided me with an amazing gift, the gift of not giving up on myself and my education even if the odds were totally against me at that time.

My name is Denise Mkapuza. I was a Bursary holder at African Scholars Fund from 2000 until 2004. I just wanted to Thank you for all the years that you have supported me at Fezeka Secondary School.

Mary-Lisa Vaaltyn wrote to us and had the following to say: “It feels wonderful to be able to write to you again. My name is Mary-Lisa, one of the old learners from Willowmore Secondary School. I would like to thank all of you who contributed towards my education.

Arthur Mabentsela was with the ASF until 2002. He recently wrote to us where he says: “I am now a chemical engineer for Anglo Platinum. I graduated last year with honours and I am proud to say that I finished it in record time, and got a couple of awards during my stay there.

Thembinkosi Kenneth Ngoma matriculated in 1995 from Luhlaza High School. Between 1992 and 1995, he was a recipient of the African Scholar’s Fund Bursary. “Honestly, if it was not for ASF I do not think I would have made it to Matric and beyond.

Zukile Betana‘s story: “I would like to take this time and express my deep feelings of joy and appreciation to all the sponsors, shareholders and co-operators of the AFRICAN SCHOLARS’ FUND family for their assistance and contribution towards my education during the academic year 2011.

Dr. Phindiswa Mnana currently works in the Eastern Cape at Nompumelelo Hospital. She attended high school at Sandisiwe school which is situated at Mdantsane in East London.

Nondyebo comes from Uitenhage where she and three of her siblings are supported by her father’s old age pension of R940/mth. She passed her senior certificate in 2005 and went straight to a FET College to study for two years.

Kgotlaetsile comes from Batlhoros in the Northern Cape. Both his parents are deceased and the only income comes from his older sister who gets a child support grant for her two children. After completing his senior certificate in 2004, Kgotlaetsile went on to work as a labourer for two years, trying to help her sister.

Fatima lived in the Milnerton area and the only income for her family came from her mother’s disability grant. We helped her to complete her schooling and she gained an excellent Matric pass. Then we arranged bursaries for her, through TECSAT, so that she could study Financial Management at the FET college in Muizenberg.

Joseph was a lively lad in Langa during the apartheid 70s, in the days when police raids ruled the night with their cars and bright lights and Casspirs as they hunted down dissidents. Joseph and his friends slept in different houses every night trying to avoid being arrested, but one night they were caught, taken to the police station and badly beaten.

Sithembile lived in a poor home supported only by his widowed mother. He attended High School up to Grade 10 and then went to Technical College to study Electrical Engineering.

Pazuna, originally from the Herschel district, was referred to us from Groote Schuur Hospital where he was treated for congenital heart disease. He had surgery and a long convalescence. African Scholars’ Fund helped him through High School and then Technical College where he completed N3 with 4 distinctions.

Nontobeko came from a large and delightful family in Guguletu, Cape Town . Her father lost his job so we helped several of the children at school. Nontobeko did very well indeed, but we lost touch with her for over 20 years until this letter came: