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Multi-asset broker Exness (https://www.Exness.com) extended its Exness Fintech Scholarship program in South Africa to reward academic excellence among students in the fields of computer science and applied mathematics. In partnership with the University of Cape Town (UCT), the oldest and highest-rated university in South Africa, Exness funded the studies of three students, Adam Vere studying for an Honors degree in Computer Science, and Thato Thapo and Sipho Nkele, both studying for a Postgraduate degree in Applied Mathematics.

This is the first time a broker has offered scholarships to university students in South Africa, essentially giving them the opportunity to continue their studies on a post-graduate level. The students were selected on rigorous academic criteria and personal interviews conducted by Exness and UCT. The program aims to provide students with potential in ICT fields the opportunity to advance their academic education and pursue a career in the technology sector.

“We are delighted to award these scholarships to Adam, Thato, and Sipho, three young people who show impeccable talent and potential in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics”, Martin Throrvaldsson, Exness Head of CSR, commented. “Exness is committed to giving back to the communities it operates in and the Exness Fintech Scholarship program is a prime example of this. Through this program, three deserving students who may not have had the opportunity otherwise will pursue their academic dreams in ICT fields”, Mr. Thorvaldsson continued. “We are looking forward to seeing what these brilliant minds will achieve in the years to come”, he concluded.

“At University of Cape Town, our aim is to “Unleash human potential to create a fair and just society” – in the core academic functions, the cross-cutting responsibilities of transformation and social responsiveness, and the systems that support and sustain UCT's work. We strive to connect with like-minded visionary partners like Exness to aid us to reach our mission. We are appreciative of this partnership with Exness and we continue to be optimistic to further expand our partner network”, commented Stafford Bomester, Head of Fundraising at University of Cape Town.

It is worth noting the three South African students started the Scholarships in April 2023 and while the Exness Fintech Scholarships program has already awarded scholarships to brilliant students in Cyprus, it will expand to Vietnam, Thailand, and Seychelles in 2023-2024.

Exness is a global multi-asset broker which uses a unique combination of technology and ethics to create a favorable market for traders and raise the industry benchmark. Exness' ethos and vision revolve around the concept of offering its clients a frictionless trading experience, by bringing to life the financial markets in the way they should be experienced. Exness' identity and commitment to the two worlds of technology and ethics, as well as its loyal client base which counts over 500,000 active traders, many of whom are from South Africa and the broader African region, are key drivers of the global brand. Today, Exness records over $3 trillion in monthly trading volume and has set its focus on a strategic expansion to new corners of the world.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Exness.

Trina Solar (www.TrinaSolar.com), the world's leading provider of PV and smart energy total solutions, has responded to the growing demand in South Africa by expanding its operations. With continuous investment in the South African market over the years, the company has recently opened a new office in Johannesburg and a warehouse in Cape Town. This expansion has fueled Trina Solar's unprecedented growth in the region, as evidenced by a record-breaking tripled solar PV module sales volume in 2023.

Recognizing the market's potential, Trina Solar's new office and warehouse aim to enhance the company's distribution network in South Africa. This addition, along with an existing warehouse in Durban, will allow the company to deliver solar products faster and more efficiently to customers across the country and neighboring regions. Trina Solar is dedicated to bringing its latest solar technologies and full solutions to include mounting structures, energy storage systems, and extensive range of solar panels to the market, catering to the diverse needs of its customers.

“With South Africa's goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, Trina Solar aims to lead the way in providing solar panels to support this journey towards a sustainable future. The company's n-type module portfolio is based on leading 210mm product technology and n-type i-TOPCon cell technology, which can be applied in numerous settings to help customers meet their energy goals,“ stated Gonzalo de la Viña, President EMEA.

Trina Solar's new next-generation photovoltaic Vertex N AND Vertex S+ panels position the company to provide exceptional products, services and support to its customers in South Africa and beyond. By making their products available locally, Trina Solar aims to become the preferred provider for their customers. With a focus on bringing cutting-edge technology and innovation to the region, Trina Solar offers renewable and sustainable energy solutions to South Africa and the region as a whole.

"We're excited to bring our latest n-type modules to South Africa. Our commitment to South Africa goes beyond bringing top-quality products to the market. With our new Johannesburg offices, we'll provide personalized one-to-one support to our customers. We are committed to continuing to deliver reliable energy solutions to the South African market," commented Gonzalo de la Viña, President EMEA, Trina Solar.

The company also revealed impressive figures indicating its sustained growth in the industry. In 2022, the total module shipments reached 43.09GW, while cumulative module shipments surpassed 140GW by the end of March 2023. Independent research agency TrendForce reported that the industry's cumulative shipments of 210mm modules had surpassed 120GW in the first quarter of the year, with Trina Solar accounting for over 65GW. This makes Trina Solar the top global supplier of 210mm modules, with a market share of more than 50%.

Furthermore, Trina Solar has gained recognition from esteemed international institutions, boasting a perfect score of 100% in the BNEF Bankability Survey for seven consecutive years. In the PV Tech Module Tech Bankability Ratings report, Trina Solar earned a consistent AAA ranking for four quarters in a row, as of the first quarter of 2023.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Trina Solar.

About Trina Solar:
Trina Solar was founded in 1997. As a global leading provider for photovoltaic (PV) module and smart energy solutions, Trina Solar delivers PV products, applications and services to promote global sustainable development. Through constant innovation, Trina Solar continues to push the PV industry forward by creating greater grid parity of PV power and popularizing renewable energy. Trina Solar's mission is to boost global renewable energy development around the world.

To date, Trina Solar has delivered more than 140 GW of solar modules worldwide. In addition, Trina's downstream business includes solar PV project development, financing, design, construction, operations and management, and one-stop system integration solutions for customers. Trina Solar has connected over 9.5GW of solar power plants to the grid worldwide. Trina Solar first launched the Energy IoT brand in 2018 and is now aiming to be a global leader in smart energy. In June 2020, Trina Solar listed on the STAR Market of Shanghai Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.TrinaSolar.com. 

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The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education today received a detailed progress report on infrastructure in terms of the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) and the Sanitation Appropriate For Education Iniative (SAFE).

The committee heard that ASIDI focuses on providing appropriate school buildings for schools that previously were made of entirely inappropriate materials, appropriate water supply to schools with no water, appropriate sanitation at schools with no toilets and appropriate electricity supply to schools with no electricity supply. SAFE on the other hand focusses on appropriate sanitation at schools dependent on basic pit toilets.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) informed the committee that it is estimated that in 1996 there were about 1,000 schools made entirely of inappropriate materials. In 2011, there were initially 510 schools on the ASIDI programme. This number decreased to 332 and of the 332 schools made entirely of inappropriate materials, 330 were replaced. Replacement of the two remaining  schools is scheduled for completion in the 2023/24 financial year.

According to the DBE, in 2006 a total of 8 823 schools were recorded with no water supply. In 2011, there were initially 1 117 schools on the ASIDI programme and this number increased to 1 306. The committee heard that of the 1 306 water supply projects, 1 292 were completed and the remaining 14 water supply projects are scheduled for completion in the 2023/24 financial year.

Regarding electricity supply, the committee heard that it was recorded that 15 263 schools were with no electricity supply. In 2011, there were initially 902 schools on the ASIDI programme. This number decreased to 373 and all of the 373 electricity supply projects had been completed.

The committee further heard that in 2006 a total of 3 265 schools were recorded with no toilets. In 2011, there were initially 701 schools on the ASIDI programme. This number increased to 1 087 and all of them have been replaced.

According to the Schools Register of Needs (SRN) in 2006, it was recorded that 9 600 schools depended on basic pit toilets. In 2018, there were initially 3 898 schools on the SAFE programme. This number decreased to 3 395 and of this,  2 728 have been completed. The remaining 667 sanitation projects are scheduled for completion in the 2023/24 financial year.

Committee Chairperson, Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, said the committee noted and welcomes the improvements regarding maintenance in schools. The committee further appreciated the close monitoring by DBE regarding implementation.

Ms Mbinqo-Gigaba said: “We note that this has taken much longer than many of us would have wanted. We are, however, cognisant of the financial restictions in addressing all these issues at once, finances that the DBE does not have at its disposal due to other challenges in the country. We will continue to monitor the progress with both projects.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.