Ntwaagae Seleka

Ntwaagae Seleka

When Julius Makibinyane's parents died a few years ago, the teenager and his two siblings' world came tumbling down.

Apart from worrying about where their next meal would come from, they had to think of how they were going to finish school.

A social grant is what saw them through, and last year Julius, 17, sat for his matric exams. He passed with an exemption.

Now his future looks very bright, thanks to Operation Geleza, a financial scheme set up by the Moqhaka Municipality and business people in Free State.

On Friday, Julius was among 52 matriculants who received bursaries for further studies at tertiary institutions. Set up in 2004, the scheme will benefit 400 students this year.

"Now, I can afford to study marketing. Ever since the death of my parents, life has been very hard," said Julius.

He said he and his sister survived on his brother's child support grant.

Another student Keu Simone, 18, from Viljoenskroon, was equally jubilant.

Keu will study for a bachelor's degree in education. "For people like me, this is an opportunity I could not afford to miss."

The municipality hosted a farewell function for the 52 students at Seisoville in Kroonstad, Free State.

Sello Pieterson, of Operation Geleza, said the project was started to help children from poor backgrounds.