The Executive Mayor of Oudtshoorn, Colan Sylvester has met with representatives from a number of local schools to discuss his bursary awards system aimed at improving the relationship between schools and the municipality so that more scholars are encouraged to look at the local government sector for employment.
The Municipality plans to develop the youth of Oudtshoorn, assist with their educational training and then let them apply their skills in the town. The bursary program for 2017/18 will be R600-000 and will be divided in external bursaries (R300-000) and internships for graduates (R300-000). The external bursaries will focus on studies in electrical engineering and civil engineering and housing. The internships will focus on whatever the needs of the municipality are at that time.
Due to the fact that this program is being financed by tax-payers money, only residents of Oudtshoorn will be eligible for this program. The Mayor believes that by ensuring that local youth are empowered by this program, the skills will be ploughed back into the communities from which they come.