Newcastle Municipality is inviting applications for bursaries to students residing within the Newcastle Municipality area wishing to study at any Government recognized institution of higher learning in South Africa. The purpose of his funds is to provide financial assistance to the historically disadvantaged needy students to further their education.

FIELD OF STUDY : ANY
MINIMUM SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
• Grade 12
• Must be a Newcastle Resident
• Matriculated in Newcastle only

WHO CAN APPLY?
• People withing the age group designated as youth as per the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Number 108 of 1996
• Applicant registering to study at government recognised institution for any field of study
• Matriculants or academics who met the set requirements
• Preference will be given to applicants who excel accademically
• Previously disadvantaged individuals

The Bursay Provides : Once off Registration Assistance

THE FOLLOWING MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR APPLICATION
• Comprehensive CV
• Municipal bursary application form
• Certified copies of ID’s for both the applicant and parent as well as the latest results
• Guardian or parent’s proof of income
• A provisional letter of acceptance from your preferred institution
• Proof of residential address

The municipality reserves the right to confirm applicant confirmation of acceptance at institution of study. Kindly note the failure to attach the required documentaion will automatically disqualify your application.
Municipal bursary forms are obtainable from the following office:
Office No. F32 Newcastle Civic Centre as well as online at www.newcastle.gov.za. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Faxed or emailed applications will not be considered.
Applications should be forwarded to : Private Bag X6621, newcastle 2940 or alternatively hand delivered at Office F32, Newcastle Municipality.

Enquiry : Sibonelo Mitshali (Community Liason Officer – Office of The Mayor)
034 328 7777 or Suleman Vadwa (Administrative Officer – Office of the Mayor)

“The Small Business Week is one of the most important events in the calendar of the Newcastle Municipality. This is the 5th year that this event has taken place and each year we have seen this event grow”. These were the opening and welcoming remarks by Programme Director and Newcastle Municipality Strategic Executive Director for Development Planning & Human Settlements; Ms Nokuthula Thusi, when Newcastle Municipality in partnership with Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), ITHALA, Department of Economic Development and Tourism hosted the Small Business Week held from 13-16 October 2015 at the Blackrock Casino.

The aim of the event was to enhance Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) and Co-operative Development to drive Economic Development by providing skills and information as well as opportunities to SMME’s, which include access to finance, access to markets and dealing with compliance issues with regards to the establishment of new businesses.
In his keynote address, Newcastle Municipality Mayor Cllr Afzul Rehman emphasized the need to create a conducive environment for business people to succeed. “We have events such as this so that you can all come together and put your minds together and come up with plans and strategies to be able to dictate to the leadership within the municipality on how to move forward in creating jobs for businesses to prosper and to ensure that we win this triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment”, alluded the Mayor.

“We need to continue to grow Newcastle in attracting and bringing foreign direct investment to our town which will enable creation of sustainable jobs. The municipality is in the process of developing a very strong business retention and expansion programme, through this programme we will be visiting big businesses in Newcastle to ensure that these businesses retain and expand thus pursue support from them to assist in developing small businesses in Newcastle”, he concluded.
Guest speakers, Mr Bonke Shipalana; CEO of a Communications Firm & Founder of Power of 1 and Mr Sbonelo Mbatha; Chairperson of the BP Dealership Council, gave insight and experience as successful entrepreneurs.

“I am here to inspire you to become successful entrepreneurs. Most of us have the business plan with the experience but we don’t know the process of putting it together so it can appeal to others. There is a difference between a business and a business man/woman. The mistake we make is to understand the business and forget to train the business man/woman”, advised Shipalana.

When sharing his life experiences, from being a petrol attendant to registering for a BP Entrepreneurship Programme to now owning petrol stations around South Africa; Mr Sbonelo Mbatha urged those present to know their line of business and what it is that they are passionate about. “One of the biggest problems I have seen from aspiring entrepreneurs is to start big when you are small. Entrepreneurship is simple problem solving and in pursuit of solving problems, you make money”, said Mbatha.
In closing, emerging entrepreneurs; Mr Thami Mbatha, Mrs Sonto Makhubo and Mr Sandile Nazo shared their success stories and bestowed acknowledgement to SEDA for the assistance, guidance and the economic development of their businesses.

Newcastle Municipality Community Services Department (Protection Unit) lead by its Acting Strategic Executive Director (SED) Mr Thisha Mhlanga launched the Public Transport Month Campaign on 06 October 2015. Statistics in South Africa revealed that Newcastle is one of the towns where public transport is mostly used because many people rely on it and Newcastle is regarded as the center to many routes and provinces like Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Free State provinces. It was for this reason that it was imperative to launch this campaign in Newcastle.

The Public Transport Month focuses mainly on three areas; the road worthiness of the car, the driver (the state of the driver or fitness), and the road which is conducive to be used by cars or drivers. The main aim of the transport month is to raise awareness to the community. It aims to curb road accidents as we are approaching summer holidays, the traffic police will be seen visible in all areas to make sure that traffic rules are adhered too and the South African Police Service (SAPS) will join them to maintain peace and order.

Mr Thisha Mhlanga reflected on the taxi violence that took place last Friday here at Newcastle and commended the Amajuba Taxi Council by condemning the violence that was between two Taxi Associations in Newcastle, the intervention of the MEC for transport in KwaZulu Natal Provincial Government helped to bring order in the taxi industry.

Speaking on behalf of the Emergency Rescue Service (EMRS) Amajuba District Mr Muzi Mbatha demonstrated the readiness of the emergency response. They have twelve (12) Ambulances, four (4) are based in Newcastle, six (6) in Madadeni and two (2) in Charlestown.

The traffic department gives traffic updates everyday morning on NCR
SMS line – 071 626 4288
Whatsapp – 076 155 5040
EMRS Tell – 10177 / Cell – 122