Honouring Tomorrow's Business Leaders

Provincial Treasury, Nedbank and the Western Cape Education Department honoured bursary winners and the Western Cape's top performing schools in Accounting and Economics at a prestigious award ceremony on 12 March 2011 at the Nedbank BOE Building, V&A Waterfront.

The Bursary Competition targeted grade 11 students who were taking Economics, Maths and/or accounting as subjects. Learners were asked to write an essay critically analysing the current economic climate in South Africa while making recommendations to government and businesses on possible interventions. The best essays were selected and 19 finalists were asked to present their ideas to a panel which included Provincial Treasury's Dr Stegmann, Nedbank's Caren Altenkirch and Western Cape Education's Phumla Satyo. From there, 12 learners were chosen to receive the bursaries.

The 12 winners were awarded bursaries to study at a tertiary institution of their choice. The top 3 learners received an additional cash prize with Mienke Knipe, a learner from Bloemhof Girls High School in Stellenbosch, winning R10 000 for achieving the highest points in the competition.

"I feel honoured and humble in receiving such a generous award," said Mienke after winning her award.

"I am looking forward to making things happen."

Elsies River High and Zola Secondary School took home a cash prize of R50 000 each for being recognised as the Western Cape's top performing schools in Accounting and Economics.