AS Nelson Mandela University opened for the new academic year, first-year student, Lonwabo Jacobs (17), took his first steps towards a dream career in the sciences.
The Somerset East matriculant is the first recipient of the Flip Potgieter Scholarship, a legacy bursary honouring Potgieter, who was passionate about promoting the study of maths and science throughout his life.
The scholarship will provide R100 000 a year for the three years of Lonwabo’s Bachelor of Science degree at Nelson Mandela University.
Lonwabo said, “I feel very excited to be awarded the bursary. I would like to become a forensic analyst.”
Potgieter, who fought apartheid and was well known in the Bay’s political and cricket administration circles, lectured maths at Nelson Mandela University from 1978 to 2006. He died in 2018.
He was also responsible for co-founding the university’s Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC) in 2002, which aims at boosting the maths and science marks of promising learners from underprivileged schools, to help them gain access to tertiary studies.
GMMDC also promotes STEAM education in SA schools, the acronym standing for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, as well as creativity in problem-solving, to empower learners with the skills they will need to find work
Following Potgieter’s death, Stellenbosch businessman and former Cadbury’s director, Piet Beyers, who became a close friend of Potgieter while living in Port Elizabeth, decided to set up the legacy bursary in his honour.
As Potgieter loved the Karoo – frequently visiting a family farm near Jansenville – and was passionate about creating equal opportunities for all South Africans the scholarship aims at creating opportunities for Karoo-based candidates from financially-challenged backgrounds to study towards any degree in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields at Nelson Mandela University. The scholarship will be awarded to a new recipient every three years, and preference will be given to those who plan to enter the teaching profession.
“Pottie and I often spoke about the challenges facing South Africa, and what the country’s priorities should be. What is key is education, education, education. He was passionate about maths and science,” said Beyers.
“My hope is that the scholarship will help to preserve the legacy of a special man, who had a big impact on a lot of people. It’s a way to say thank you, Pottie.”
Lonwabo matriculated from Johnson Ngonqoza Senior Secondary School.
