The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, in conjunction with the North West Premier’s office, will be hosting the official launch of the renaming of the Provincial Bursary Scheme to the Victor Thebe Sifora bursary scheme on 1 June 2022.

The renaming of the scheme is aimed at promoting and preserving the legacy of VT Sifora as an academic, activist and struggle veteran.

The bursary scheme will provide financial support to prospective students from poor backgrounds to grant them access to various institutions of higher learning.

North West Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape is a keynote speaker at the renaming event.

Various dignitaries will attend the event, including the North West speaker and deputy speaker, members of the executive council, heads of departments and administrators, as well as various municipal mayors.

Members of the Sifora family and an NWU delegation led by Prof Daryl Balia, deputy vice-chancellor for IT and Potchefstroom Campus operations, will also attend.

About VT Sifora

Victor Thebe (VT) Sifora was born on 19 April 1914 at the Mopyane village in the North West. He started his basic education at Marabastad in Pretoria and proceeded to Saint Peter’s in Rosettenville in Johannesburg.

In the early 1940’s he enrolled for a teacher training qualification at Adams College in Natal, and later graduated from UNISA, majoring in political science and history.

During his career of more than 30 years, he taught at various schools, including Penhalongs (in the former southern Rhodesia), Wilberforce, Hebron Teacher’s College, Bafokeng High School, Ga-Rankuwa High School and Tlhabane Teachers College.

 VT Sifora was also a founding member of the African National Congress Youth League, along with Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Anton Lembede and Walter Sisulu.