By Levy Masiteng
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and Care Enough TDS will host a golf day fundraiser on April 23 at Umhlali Country Club in a bid to support township learners and financially strained UKZN students.
To be held under the theme Driving Opportunity, Changing Futures, the event is expected to benefit more than 150 township learners and dozens of UKZN students by raising funds to widen access to higher education and bolster youth development programmes in disadvantaged communities.
The fundraiser will include networking opportunities for alumni and corporate partners, and a prize-giving and recognition ceremony.
“The initiative is grounded in the understanding that collective effort can widen access to education and support young people in pursuing their academic and career aspirations. Participation in this initiative reflects a shared commitment to advancing education and contributing to social progress,” said Normah Zondo, UKZN’s Executive Director for Corporate Relations.
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Hlengiwe Ngwenya, founder and managing director of Care Enough TDS, said the need to support learners from disadvantaged backgrounds remained urgent.
“Many capable students reach university with limited financial resources, while learners in township schools often lack exposure to higher education pathways and career opportunities,” she said.
Support for the initiative has also come from UKZN alumni, including Convocation President Dr Qiniso Mlita, who highlighted the importance of giving back. Former Mrs South Africa finalist and UKZN alumna Shan Fourie also backed the event.
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“This is more than a day on the course, it is a practical way to support those who need it and to help create opportunities that might otherwise not exist,” Fourie said.
The partners said strong early support pointed to the fundraiser’s potential to become an annual initiative focused on education and youth empowerment.
“It will also be a good day to reconnect with all our alumni and partners who share the same passion for education,” Zondo said.
UKZN said individuals and organisations interested in taking part should register by April 15.
