Last chance for South African matric pupils to join the Allan Gray Fellowship Programme
Matric pupils across South Africa are encouraged to apply for the Allan Gray Fellowship Programme. The programme offers mentorship, funding, and entrepreneurial development to shape the next generation of responsible entrepreneurs. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2025.
Image: Pexels
Matric pupils from across the country who display entrepreneurial potential and academic excellence have been invited to apply for the Allan Gray Fellowship Programme and join the ranks of hundreds of entrepreneurs who, in turn, have launched over 340 businesses and created thousands of jobs.
The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF), a member of the Allan and Gill Gray Philanthropies, has made a final call for Grade 12 pupils who believe they have what it takes to be a change-maker to apply for its Fellowship Programme ahead of the April 30, 2025, application deadline.
The Foundation will provide successful candidates with entrepreneurial mindset development, personal and academic mentorship, and funding for their university studies. These opportunities will allow them to develop their skills and become high-impact, responsible entrepreneurs.
According to Stats SA, the percentage of young people actively looking for work but unable to find it climbed from 36.8% in 2014 to 45.5% in 2024.
Charleen Duncan, the Foundation's head of programmes, stated that the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation is committed to tackling unemployment through a long-term, systems-oriented strategy.
'We believe in developing entrepreneurial mindsets and competencies in high-potential young people, not just so that they can seek employment but also so they can create it,' she said.
Duncan said that through the Allan Gray Fellowship and Allan Gray Scholarship Programmes, and more recently, the Postgraduate Fellowship pilot, the Foundation is building a pipeline of values-based, responsible entrepreneurs who are equipped to drive meaningful change.
'As we celebrate 20 years of impact, we're proud to reflect on a growing ecosystem: nearly 1 000 Allan Gray Fellows have entered the entrepreneurial space, launching over 340 businesses and creating more than 3 000 jobs.
'These enterprises have collectively generated over R2.1 billion in annual revenue and, most importantly, have positively impacted the lives of over 1.5 million people,' she said.
Duncan added that this milestone isn't just about employment figures but also about transforming the trajectory of the economy through ethical, sustainable entrepreneurship.
'That is the heart of what we're celebrating: lives meaningfully improved, and a journey of impact that continues to unfold,' she said.
Programme beneficiary Ngabelwa Nikwe graduated from the association this year and said he was able to pursue a BSc in Computer Science and Business Computing, later followed by a BCom Honours in Information Systems at the University of Cape Town through the assistance of the programme.
'Every step of the way, the Foundation stood beside me. Not as a passive funder, but as an active force in shaping who I would become,' he said.
Today, Nikwe is a software engineer at an international tech conglomerate, working across global systems and cutting-edge technologies.
In addition, he is also an entrepreneur. 'The vision is both simple and bold: to create scalable, tech-driven solutions that generate meaningful work and spark economic growth.'
Nikwe said membership in AGOF goes beyond financial contributions, it is a commitment to transformation.
'They invest in people, not numbers. They believe in your potential before the world even sees it. They nurture your passion, fuel your purpose, and connect you with a community of trailblazers who are just as hungry to create change,' he said.
He stated that without AGOF, many beneficiaries likely would not have had the opportunity to study, build, or lead.
'It is my belief that all pupils should apply and experience what I have experienced; the Foundation doesn't just invest in your future, it helps you create it.
'If you have vision, drive, and the courage to dream differently, AGOF is the place where your ideas will be challenged, nurtured, and ultimately unleashed. You'll be part of a family that holds you accountable, uplifts you, and connects you with fellow changemakers across the continent,' said Nikwe.
He added that as he transitions from Candidate Fellow to Fellow, he is very grateful and feels an even greater sense of duty. 'Now it's my turn to pay it forward. To build. To mentor. To spark.'
Fellowship application requirements: South African citizenship
Applicants must be under the age of 21 in the year of application.
A minimum of 60% in pure Mathematics or 80% in Mathematical Literacy for final Grade 11 results.
A minimum average of 70% for final Grade 11 results (excluding Life Orientation).
An intention to study towards a Commerce, Science, Engineering, Law, Humanities, Arts, or Health Sciences degree (excluding Medicine, Veterinary Science, and Dentistry) at one of the following partner universities: WITS, UJ, UCT, NMU, RU, UWC, SU, UP, UFS, UKZN, or TSiBA.
For more information, visit
www.allangrayorbis.org
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
29-05-2025
- The Citizen
Tough budget for Ekurhuleni
Ekurhuleni's total expenditure budget of R64.8 budget would be subjected to non-negotiable conditions Ekurhuleni MMC for Finance, Strategy and Corporate Planning, Jongizizwe Dlabathi, on Thursday tabled a R65.5 billion budget. According to Dlabathi, tough economic realities, lack of optimal collection, revenue leakages, weak liquidity position, ineffective expenditure management and the assumption that 90% of municipal revenue should be generated internally, were among key factors in the budget. Bullish about improving alignment and effectiveness of existing revenue collection systems, Dlabathi projected an additional estimated R2.1 billion gross revenue in the current financial year. 'Given that we intend not to borrow over the medium-term, all departments that are involved in the revenue generation value chain will have to pull together to ensure the achievement of our revenue goals in the medium and long-term. 'This will be spearheaded at the level of the Revenue Enhancement Committee that has since been put in place by Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza. 'The budget posture is guided by the directive to ensure a responsive city, working with agility to restore service delivery to communities. 'This directive demands that we focus on the core basics – providing quality, equitable and sustainable services to all in a manner that ensures the ideal quality of life,' said Dlabathi. Non-negotiables He said Ekurhuleni's total expenditure budget of R64.8 budget would be subjected to non-negotiable conditions, which would include: Spending within the allocated budget. Linking spending to the provision of essential services and goods. Fostering economic procurement and realisation of value for money. Strengthening internal capacity to reduce over-reliance on contracted services. ALSO READ: Joburg budget hanging by a thread: ANC fights to get their way as partners gun for them Key expenditure breakdown allocations include: Water and sanitation repairs will receive and maintenance R550 million,mainly to ensure resilient infrastructure that secures a sustainable supply of water and sanitation services—stretching to fixing water and sewer leakages. From the total of R20.7 million earmarked for human settlements, R7.5 million will be channelled towards basic repairs and maintenance work for selected hostels—with the rest covering the maintenance of rental units, including Ekurhuleni Housing Company. The Energy Department will receive R1.4 billion towards infrastructure and equipment maintenance related to substations, network enhancement, with R103 million allocated to the repairing of street and traffic lights, under the Operation Khanyisa Mhali. Additional R254 million has been allocated to the protection of energy infrastructure. Through the ' Siyakhuculula Manje and Clean Kasi ' programme, a total of R226 million has been allocated to environmental resources, waste management repairs, maintenance materials and supplies to support internal capacity to cut grass, maintain cemeteries, remove weeds, prune trees, and maintain landfill sites, wetlands, lakes, and dams. A total of R946 million has been allocated for roads and transport management, with road rehabilitation and pothole patching done under the auspices of the Hlasela Amapotholes project. A total of R41.3 million will be used for repairing and maintaining traffic signals. While more funds are still required, R54 million will go towards addressing sinkholes. Capital expenditure has been allocated R3.1 billion. An employee budget will be R13.4 billion – towards annual salary increments and the recruitment of additional workforce. Dlabathi said the budget will implement the recruitment of 700 permanent cleaners and 290 permanent EMPD (Ekurhuleni Municipal Police Department) officers to maintain strategic offices and buildings. 'A budget of R303 million will be allocated over the medium-term to equip the staff with essential tools of trade necessary to optimise performance. Time provision must prioritise departments that are providing essential services. 'The long-term trajectory is that of implementing the 70/30 ratio for service delivery, wherein 70% of the services are rendered in-house, with 30% contracted. 'As we implement the capital budget, we must not be found wanting with our supply chain management, planning, organising and as well as overseeing the completion of capital projects within time, scope and quality,' added Dlabathi. NOW READ: How Joburg plans to spend R89 billion
TimesLIVE
24-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Zulu spirit meets French flair as Club Med makes history with first SA resort
Tinley Manor is the kind of coastal town that whispers rather than shouts. Tucked just north of Ballito along KwaZulu-Natal's Dolphin Coast, it's a stretch of unspoilt shoreline where the Indian Ocean rolls in rhythmically, its waves folding like silk onto the sand. It should come as no surprise that this sugar cane-swathed haven is the location for the first Club Med resort in South Africa. The French brand, known for its all-inclusive barefoot luxury, chose the untouched charm of Tinley Manor for a reason: it's quiet, it's coastal and it has heart. Since March 2024, Club Med SA has been steadily transforming the site from the ground up. When I visited this month, the air buzzed — not with the hum of holidaymakers, but with the hard graft of making magic. Hard hats on, reflector vests zipped, we moved through the construction site past half-built villas and the shell of what will become a 1,000-seater restaurant. Trucks heaved, cranes groaned and workers in blue overalls worked in rhythm, laying the bones of what will soon be a R2.1-billion sanctuary of sun, surf and serenity. Project director Chris du Toit greeted us with a firm handshake, then gestured across the land. 'We've got 1,400 people working here,' he said, the pride clear in his voice. 'Over 50% of them are locals from within a 10km radius. Crime in the area has dropped by 60% because people are employed and hopeful again.' On the appeal of the locale for prospective guests, 'People want warm water and sunshine,' Du Toit says. 'KZN gives you 10 months of good weather a year. And we're just 20 minutes from an international airport, on one of the best beaches on the North Coast.' In a few months' time, there will be 345 hotel rooms, 64 luxury villas, a 500-seater conference space, private pools, a wellness centre and a main pool so central it might as well have its own passport stamp. 'For us, this is a very exciting project,' says Ken Ogwang, senior dealmaker at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), a funding partner on the project. The IDC is no stranger to funding tourism projects and recently backed the Premier Hotel Thohoyandou and the Radisson Blu Durban uMhlanga. 'We know what Club Med means in the global tourism landscape. We're not just getting the expertise, we're getting the brand strength. That's a big deal for this region.' The resort will offer all the signature Club Med indulgences: you pay one rate and everything else — from yoga to watersports to cocktails — is sorted. Whether you're a solo traveller, a family on holiday or a couple chasing a barefoot honeymoon, there's no need to think about what to eat, where to go or what to do. Ogwang says: 'You want for nothing, you think about nothing. There's entertainment, sports activities, a dancing experience... and that's what we're selling.' Sport is big here. Really big. Think padel tennis, beach volleyball, archery and sailing. It will be the first Club Med globally to feature a surf school — and they picked a coastline that delivers waves with just the right bite. The resort will also have a fitness centre with daily classes, a spa, a wellness centre and an adults-only pool and bar. But the real magic? The fact that you can easily go from catching waves to spotting lions. Just over three hours from Tinley Manor, Club Med's upcoming safari lodge in the Mpilo Game Reserve will round off the resort's 'bush-and-beach' offering, giving guests the rare chance to spot the big five in the morning and be sipping sundowners by the sea at dusk. Kagisho Bapela, Head of Services at the IDC, says the duality of this resort is what sets it apart. 'People will get to experience our culture, like the Zulu traditions and customs. The resort will also have the game reserve, so people can have the beachfront experience and a wildlife experience in the same visit. We are building an economic asset in the country that leverages global standards using local expertise and resources — a game changer!' The investment — financial and emotional — runs deep. 'This isn't just another resort,' says Ogwang. 'It's a brand that's trusted worldwide, but we're also bringing in local interior designers to pull through South African cultures and colour. International travellers will get a real feel for KZN — that vibrancy, the warmth, the soul.' The resort's main centre will include a shopping area, wine corner, gourmet restaurant and bar — all wrapped in views of the ocean. And for those needing to mix business with beach, there's a 500-seater conferencing facility — though, truth be told, it might be hard to concentrate when the sea is calling. It's the kind of all-inclusive escape that has long lured travellers to islands like Mauritius or Bali. Only this time, it's homegrown. Local. With an unmistakable African heartbeat. The resort is expected to open in July 2026, bringing in that Mzansi spirit with a side of French flair, and the kind of barefoot luxury that doesn't shout, it simply whispers, 'You're here.'
IOL News
20-05-2025
- IOL News
Ramaphosa-Trump meeting: FW de Klerk Foundation calls for trade focus
President Cyril Ramaphosa's meeting with Donald Trump takes place on Wednesday Image: Se-Anne Rall The FW de Klerk Foundation has welcomed the meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump. Ramaphosa arrived in Washington on Tuesday morning. The meeting is expected to take place on Wednesday. In an open letter, the Foundation said it had already advocated for a constructive dialogue between the Union Building and the White House. 'The Foundation believes that matters that benefit both South Africa and the United States should be focused on, rather than trivial domestic issues," the Foundation said. "The spotlight should be particularly focused on trade and matters related to strategic geo-political cooperation. "On the trade front, South Africa remains the US's largest trading partner in Africa. Trade between the two countries already amounts to more than $20 billion." It said there are currently 600 US companies operating in South Africa, which employ approximately 200,000 people. The US imports several important minerals from South Africa, including platinum, gold, chromium, manganese, and various other ores and slag. According to the Minerals Council, platinum group metals form a significant part of South Africa's exports to the US, as do iron and steel. The Foundation said these exports amounted to approximately $10.94 million in 2024. The Trump administration exempted these minerals from its tariff hikes. 'On a geopolitical level, President Ramaphosa plays a highly strategic role behind the scenes. His ties with both Putin and Zelensky, as well as the fact that he has the ear of Iran and Hamas, put him in a unique position to work with the US to help bring peace to conflict-torn parts of the world.' 'He has already touched on these issues in an earlier telephone conversation with President Trump. In addition, let's not forget his good relationship with President Xi Jinping of China,' the Foundation said. It also called on Ramaphosa to use these 'trump' cards to help promote world peace and help negotiate a fairer global trade regime. 'The world faces significant challenges. Poverty, underdevelopment, famine, crime, international drug cartels, and terrorist groups pose major risks to world peace and stability. Statesmanship and visionary leadership are needed to tackle these challenges together. This is what both South Africans and Americans expect from their political leaders,' it said. The Foundation welcomed the clarification by cabinet members in the Government of National Unity (GNU) in terms of domestic policy issues, such as the Expropriation Act, and also disinformation campaigns related to genocide, persecution of Afrikaners, and confiscation of land from white farmers happening in South Africa. 'It is the responsibility of all cabinet members, especially those from opposition ranks such as the IFP, DA, FF-plus, and PA, to put South Africa's interests first. Their actions must be future-oriented, and the focus must be on strengthening a coalition of political moderates and pragmatists to take the country forward. A strong and united political front of moderates and pragmatists must be built to solve the many challenges we face,' it said. 'Animosity and squabbling over trivialities between GNU partners only provide ammunition to radical elements, which do not seek to promote South Africa's interests, but are rather hellbent on promoting their populist, unworkable, and divisive agendas,' the Foundation said. The Foundation wished the GNU representatives, led by President Ramaphosa, all the best in Washington. 'The majority of the people of South Africa have placed their trust in the GNU. Do not let us down!' [email protected] Weekend Argus
