Uyinene Mrwetyana lives on through scholarship

A first-year UCT student, Luhlanganiso Majebe, says she is grateful to have been selected as the very first recipient of a scholarship that honours Uyinene Mrwetyana.

UCT established the Uyinene Mrwetyana Scholarship to raise awareness of gender violence. It is named after the first-year student who was raped and murdered at the Clareinch post office in Claremont in 2019.

The scholarship is an initiative of the faculty of humanities and has been set up in partnership with UCT’s development and alumni department.

Ms Majebe was notified of her successful scholarship application by Professor Shose Kessi, dean of the humanities faculty.

“I feel honoured, humbled and privileged that I have been selected to receive this scholarship,” Ms Majebe said. “I don’t take this decision lightly, because I am well aware of the responsibility that now rests on my shoulders.

“I’ve been passionate about social justice since high school, so I was automatically drawn to the scholarship because it aligns with who I am.”

The scholarship provides funding for tuition, textbooks, accommodation, and health-and-wellness services for the entire duration of the recipient’s undergraduate degree programme.

Ms Majebe is a first-year social-science student majoring in politics and sociology. She also plans to apply to the law faculty to study for a BA law degree.

“It is important that everyone understands the impact Uyinene’s tragic passing has had on UCT, South Africa and society as a whole,” she said, adding that the scholarship was a way to continue Ms Mrwetyana’s legacy and fight gender violence.

One of the conditions of the scholarship is that the recipient must contribute to the work of the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation. Ms Majebe will be signing up with The Justice Desk, an NGO that educates people about their human rights.

“I am excited to get started, and to give back in my own way,” she said. “My work with The Justice Desk will further cement the solid foundation I aim to set for future Uyinene Mrwetyana Scholarship recipients.”

Ms Mrwetyana’s mother called Ms Majebe to formally introduce herself and congratulate her on her scholarship.

“All of these factors definitely serve as motivation to further my studies – knowing that I’m part of something bigger than myself is a huge driving force,” Ms Majebe said.