The Funani sisters from Maclear are doing their bit to assist underprivileged pupils by paying the university registration fees for their town’s top achiever.
The four sisters – Zenande, Zimasa, Zothando and Zukhanye – established their Funani Foundation in 2018.
The foundation’s 2019 recipient is Thomas Ntaba Senior Secondary School pupil Esam Sindelo, who achieved four distinctions.
The sisters gave him R4,000 for registration at university.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Sindelo said he had to fight back tears when he received the money because although he was going to apply for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, knowing his registration fee were sorted out took a big burden off his mind.
“I felt so blessed. I was stressed about a lot of things but now that I have this gift, everything suddenly seems possible and I think the road will be easier from here on,” said Sindelo, who wants to study towards a BSc in pharmaceutical chemistry and has been accepted at the University of the Western Cape.
He said his family depended on money his grandmother made selling fruit and vegetables at his school, and on social grants.
“I cannot thank the Funani sisters enough ...
“This makes a huge difference in my life and I will be eternally grateful to them and may God grant them strength to keep this up and help others,” he said.
Zothando and Zukhanye said nobody should be hindered from furthering their studies because of their personal circumstances.
Zothando, who is in grade 12, said Sindelo was an inspiration and deserved assistance because he had done well despite his family’s challenges.
“I am in matric now and what Esam has done motivates me to also work hard and achieve my goals.
Grade 10 pupil and youngest of the four sisters, Zukhanye, said maths was their father’s favourite subject and so their aim was to reward someone who had done well in the field.
“We hope to raise even more funds for more people in the future,” said Zukhanye...