A group of 100 top matriculants have been presented with free laptops and other basic tertiary education tools in recognition of their outstanding performance.
The move to celebrate the achievements of the class of 2022 is part of a joint venture between Harmony Gold Mine and the Department of Basic Education.
“We believe it is important to recognise excellence among high school graduates who have excelled in their studies,” said Mashego Mashego, executive director.
Harmony operates in Gauteng, the Free State and North West.
“We hold annual Matric Excellence Awards in Gauteng, North West and the Free State, where the best performers are awarded laptops and other tools to support tertiary education. These provinces represent the footprint of Harmony’s mining communities in South Africa.”
Harmony considers responsible stewardship to be one of the key strategic pillars guiding its social investment plans, with education remaining the main underlying priority.
This is why a programme was introduced in 2021 to financially support the so-called missing middle. These are the learners who have passed matric and are in their first year of university who did not qualify for bursaries and are unable to qualify for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) loan.
“Although our support for learners goes back decades, in the last five years we have implemented over 900 school projects, sponsored over 350 bursaries and offered internships to 349 students in the various disciplines of our company.
“All of these beneficiaries are from our mining communities,” said Mashego.
He thanked the Department of Basic Education and local community representatives who have continuously assisted in identifying students and schools that need help and support.
“You have helped us to reach out to students in child-headed households; students participating in school feeding programmes; schools in need of science and computer labs; students in need of learning support; and the list goes on.”
