Govt, business leaders play golf
Lazarus Mabasa
9 February 2005
About R1-million is expected to be raised in this year's Presidential Golf Challenge, to be held in Cape Town on Saturday, to benefit the country's students.
The challenge, held a day after the annual State of the Nation Address, raises funds for President Thabo Mbeki's charity fund, that will introduce a postgraduate scholarship programme this year.
Representatives from government and business will descend on the De Zalze Golf Club near Stellenbosch for the charity event, that has become a permanent fixture on Cape Town's social calendar over the past three years.
To date, approximately R967 000 has been raised through sponsorship by public and private companies who have taken part in the "four ball alliance" that pits senior government officials against their private sector counterparts.
Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi says she's looking forward to the kind of support that the corporate sector
has provided over the past few years.
"Our sincere thanks go to all sponsors who have since become synonymous with the Presidential Golf Challenge, where the emphasis is not so much on winning but rather on having fun while contributing to a worthy cause", Fraser-Moleketi said.
The main beneficiary so far has been the Thabo Mbeki Crossroads Education Fund, that awards bursaries to deserving students from destitute backgrounds.
The fund was set up following Mbeki's meeting with the community of Crossroads in Cape Town in 1996. The community requested Mbeki's patronage and support in establishing a fund for needy students to further their studies.
Initially, the fund supported students studying at Western Cape-based institutions. After 1999, the fund took on a national character and began supporting students from across the country.
To date, the fund has provided financial support to over 250 students at various tertiary education institutions across
the country.
Source: BuaNews
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