The Uyinene Mrwetyana Scholarship was established in honour of the late first-year University of Cape Town (UCT) student whose life was cut short by her brutal murder in 2019.
This week UCT announce that Luhlanganiso Majebe, a first-year social science student, majoring in political studies and sociology, is the first student to receive their Uyinene Mrwetyana Scholarship.
The scholarship is a collaborative initiative between the faculty of Humanities and UCT’s Development and Alumni Department. It provides financially eligible students in the Humanities faculty with funding for tuition and essentials like textbooks, accommodation, health and wellness for the duration of the recipient’s undergraduate degree programme.
Speaking to UCT Majebe shared that she is relieved and thankful for the extremely important opportunity she has been given to pursue the degree of her choice in a field that fascinates her and the platform to raise awareness about the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa as well as preserve Uyinene Mrwetyana’s memory.
“It is important that everyone understands the impact Uyinene’s tragic passing has had on UCT, South Africa and society. This scholarship is a way of propagating her legacy within the university, and to help fight GBV.” said Majebe.
As part of the scholarship agreement, Majebe will be contributing to the work of the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation. This will include volunteering at a non-profit organisation (NPO) that works with communities affected by GBV. Majebe has chosen to sign up with The Justice Desk, an award-winning human rights NPO that aims to empower, educate and equip members of society with the necessary tools to become agents of change. She is keen to begin her work there with their Mbokodo Club, which provides self-defence classes to survivors of GBV.
“I feel honoured, humbled and privileged that I have been selected to receive this scholarship. I don’t take this decision lightly, because I am well aware of the responsibility that now rests on my shoulders.” Majebe added.
