The University of Venda and ABSA representatives held a successful meeting that will hopefully benefit students and the surrounding communities.
The vice-chancellor and principal of Univen, Prof Peter Mbati, said that the government alone could not support the needy students. He urged businesses to assist where possible. "If one organization can fund at least five deserving and financially needy students, a lot can be achieved. I thank ABSA bank for its contribution to this community," said Mbati.
Last year, ABSA contributed R500 000 to 24 Univen students who are in the School of Management Sciences to settle their 2016 debts.
ABSA provincial head of business banking Umesh Mudhav said that they were very excited to be in partnership with Univen in its time of transformation. "This partnership will boost both ABSA and Univen, because students from this university use our services," he said. He said that ABSA had opted to put their money where it was needed most, in order to make a difference in people's lives.
According to Mudhav, 90% of ABSA's investment in Limpopo was in agriculture, because Limpopo is a place of farming. "Not only Univen students will benefit, but also the surrounding communities, especially the rural black historically disadvantaged and small-scale farmers," he added.
Univen's director of finance, Rose Mgobo, expressed her appreciation for the R500 000 that ABSA had contributed towards academically deserving students. "Every cent that we receive towards assisting our financially needy students is most welcome," she said.
Ronewa Bamuza, one of the beneficiaries, said that he was delighted and thankful to be one of the ABSA beneficiaries. "I will no longer stress about funding during registration. I will perform to my best level. I will never disappoint ABSA," he promised.