Bursary Award Ceremony 2009

Dr JC Stegmann speaks at the Bursary Awards Ceremony held on 3 August 2009 at the Nedbank Clocktower, V&A Waterfront.

Treasury Addresses Skills Shortages in Finance and Economics

"The Provincial Treasury has struggled in the past to recruit and retain sufficient numbers of capable and dedicated staff," Finance MEC Alan Winde told guests who attended the bursary ceremony in the Waterfront.

Over one hundred guests, including senior management, internal staff and parents of the PT bursary holders from high schools and universities attended the function where they were recognised for their excellence in the field of Finance and Economics.

Speaking at the Nedbank Clocktower during the second annual Provincial Treasury Bursary Ceremony held on 3 August, Winde said that the Provincial Treasury's bursary scheme was a direct intervention to address skills shortages.

"Our internal and external bursary programmes were developed as a direct result of this, and since they began, we have largely succeeded in filling the 37% vacancy rate we had," Winde said.

"The results of this investment stand for themselves: the quality of staff that we now have in auditing, accounting, management and corporate governance is exceptional," said Winde.

In a direct reference to the global economic downturn which has reduced government's budget and forced department's to cut down or reprioritise their spending patterns, Winde's speech was a positive signal that the bursary programme will stay on despite recession.

"Even though we are facing major budget cuts due to the economic climate that we currently find ourselves in, we will do everything that we can to ensure that this programme continues.

Head of Provincial Treasury, Dr Johann Stegmann said the success of the bursary scheme made him proud to be part of Treasury.

Dr Stegmann cautioned though, that the staff members needed not to be complacent simply because of their past successes, but rather recommit themselves in making a difference in their respective components.

"While we congratulate our bursary holders today, we should remind ourselves again, that this is an ongoing task and reality tells us that success attained in any given year cannot automatically be carried over to the next year. Every new year has its own challenges and only dedicated and focus action of all units in Treasury will ensure continued success."

Dr Stegmann expressed gratitude to the Human Resource Management unit for the significant contribution the bursary programme has made, and to the ceremony organising committee.

The staff members were later treated in a stylish party with lunch, soft drinks and music.

Second year B.Com student, Engelina Olifant of the University of Western Cape, who used to walk about 10 km to get to her high school in Worcester, said that she was grateful to be receiving the bursary and that "studying at university was her childhood dream".