SA Ministry of Works Mulls Expansion of Bursary Programme

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille says she will lobby for more money for her department’s bursary programme so more learners can continue their studies in the field of the built environment.

The bursary programme forms part of the Skills Pipeline Programme where pupils are encouraged at high school level to start considering careers in the built environment.

The bursaries are awarded to pupils in need of financial assistance, who display excellence and have been accepted for courses in the built environment for their tertiary education.

Speaking at the bursary award-giving ceremony in Pretoria, de Lille congratulated the 2022 matriculating class on the achievement of completing their school career.

She told the learners that the last three years at school were challenging but today they can be proud of themselves because they have reached a big milestone.

De Lille encouraged the bursary recipients to continue to work hard in their tertiary education so that they can become a successful part of the country.

The DPWI bursary programme has benefitted 452 students since 2014 including the recent 72, which brings the total to 524 beneficiaries.

The total value of the bursaries awarded this year is estimated at R165 000 per student per year.

Director-General in the Presidency Phindile Baleni, speaking at the event, said more female students should be given the opportunity to be involved in the built environment.

Of the total number of this year’s bursary recipients, 42 are females.

As part of building a capable and ethical state, the DPWI annually awards bursaries to pupils in need of financial assistance.

The programme further aims to increase the number of built environment professionals and ensure transformation of the sector.

The programme serves as a feeder to the department’s Internship and Young Professionals Programme and later forms a pool of qualified built environment professionals to serve the state in the delivery of infrastructure projects.