Government Bursaries South Africa 2024

There are many departments within the government of South Africa – from Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to Basic Education, Health, Home Affairs, Labour, Public Works, Trade and Industry and so on.

Students who meet the following minimum entry criteria are generally eligible to apply for these bursaries, but please note that each bursary award may require additional unique eligibility criteria – all information can be found on each bursary listing below:

You must be a South African citizen,
You must be currently in Matric and have obtained good academic results so far OR have completed Matric with good academic results,
You must be studying or have been accepted to study in certain fields (usually skill shortage fields),
Certain bursary programmes may require that students be residing in a certain area.

The fields of study covered differ between each bursary listings. Below is a list of bursary programmes offered by each province in South Africa:

EASTERN CAPE GOVERNMENT BURSARIES FOR 2024 & 2024

The Eastern Cape’s capital is Bhisho with the province’s largest cities being Gqueberha and East London. The province was formed in 1994 out of Bantustans (Xhosa homelands) along with the eastern part of the Cape Province. Eastern Cape’s center consists of many indigenous Xhosa people who were history’s first ‘residents’ of the province Raymond Mhlaba was the first premier of the province, and the current premier is Oscar Mabuyane, both being members of the ANC (African National Congress.) Parliament and all congress relating to the province are conducted at the capital, Bisho, with the High Court located in Grahamstown.

The province holds a lot of fertile land for the country, and thus, relies on the importance of agriculture. The Eastern Cape has grounds for rich fruit orchards, sheep farming in the Karoo, dairy products, coffee, tea, and chicory.

Owing to the province’s dependence heavily on agriculture and farming, many residents of the Eastern Cape are dependent on maize, cattle, and sorghum production. The province is also slowly benefiting financially from game farming and eco-tourism.

If you are a resident of the Eastern Cape province, here are some Government bursaries you could apply for:

FREE STATE GOVERNMENT BURSARIES FOR 2024 & 2024

The Free State (known as the Orange Free State before 1995) had its borders first established in 1994; the province’s capital (Bloemfontein) is the country’s judicial capital. The origins of the province date back to the Boer republic, when many Bantustans were abolished and made into the country we know today.

The Free State’s provincial government consists of 10 ministers on the executive council, legislature, and a premier. Every 5 years both a provincial assembly and premier are selected with political parties being awarded assembly seats. The current premier of the Free State is Sisi Ntombela who has been appointed since March 2024.

The flatlands of the Free State allow for many herds of game to live and thrive, such as springbok, wildebeest, rhinoceros, kudu, and more. The province also has a climate that consists of hot and warm summers, with cold winters.

The Free State is rich in mining minerals, as it produces about 20% of the world’s total gold production, has 12 gold mines, and also provides a large portion of the countries silver production.

If you are a resident of the Free State province, here are some Government bursaries you could apply for:

GAUTENG GOVERNMENT BURSARIES FOR 2024 & 2024

Gauteng is the South African province most famous for its production of gold. In 1994, the province got its name from the Sotho-Tswana language, meaning “place of gold.” The province experienced a thriving gold industry after the 1886 discovery of gold in Johannesburg. Gauteng is the county’s smallest province, yet holds ¼ of South Africa’s population (with approximately 15 million people Gauteng) it’s capital is Pretoria, and it also holds the country’s largest city- Johannesburg.

The province is governed by Provincial Legislature (a 73- person unicameral legislature.) The legislature then chooses a member to be the premier of the province, and the premier then appoints an Executive council consisting of 10 members. The provincial government ensures that all topic relating to the national constitution is followed in Gauteng.
Currently, the ANC (African National Congress) is the leading party within the province with the premier being David Makhura.

Gauteng is known as the economic hub of the province, contributing to many sectors of the country’s economy as well as hosting a number of overseas companies needing commercial bases in the continent, and is also the home to the JSE (Johannesburg Stock Exchange.)

If you are a resident of the Gauteng province, here are some Government bursaries you could apply for:

KWAZULU-NATAL GOVERNMENT BURSARIES FOR 2024 & 2024

KwaZulu-Natal is known as South Africa’s Garden Province and was created in 1994 when the Zulu Bantustan of KwaZulu and the Natal province merged. KwaZulu-Natal is the country’s second-largest province, with its capital being Pietermaritzburg, and the largest city Durban.

On 25 December 1947, a Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama saw the coast of KwaZulu-Natal and named it “Natal”, the Portuguese word for Christmas. KwaZulu-Natal was first inhabited by indigenous Zulu people but was later taken by Afrikaner Voortrekkers and European settlers.

The provincial government is located in Pietermaritzburg, and the provincial legislature consists of 80 members. KwaZulu-Natal’s current premier is Sihle Zikalala- a member of the ANC (African National Congress.) KwaZulu-Natal thrives from the city of Durban, as it is ever-growing and one of the busiest ports in Africa.

Many railroads and links to this city allow for imports and exports, further adding to the country’s GDP. Durban’s main export commodity is sugar and KwaZulu-Natal exports many other commodities and minerals such as zircon, rutile, and ilmenite.

If you are a resident of the KwaZulu-Natal province, here are some Government bursaries you could apply for:

LIMPOPO GOVERNMENT BURSARIES FOR 2024 & 2024

The Limpopo province gets its name from the Limpopo River that forms the western and northern borders of the province. Limpopo’s capital and largest city are Polokwane (formerly known as Pietersburg.) The province’s political landscape is still heavily dependant on the cultures and leadership of traditional chiefs and leaders.

The Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders is responsible for advising the provincial government on the various legislature and in 2017, Kgosi Malesela Dikgale was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders. The current prime minister of Limpopo is Stanley Mathabatha, a member of the ANC (African National Congress.)

Limpopo is s typical “developing” province, using primary products in their exports and importing manufactured items. Limpopo is rich in agriculture as about 80% of Southern Africa’s game hunting is done there and the array of animals attracts many tourists, making the province an eco-tourism destination. Limpopo also has a rich flora, such as sunflowers, maize, various grapes, nuts, and tropical fruit.

The province has a rich mining industry and is the countries largest platinum deposit. Other minerals mined in Limpopo are coal, diamonds, phosphate, copper, and more- contributing to more than a fifth of the provincial economy.

If you are a resident of the Limpopo province, here are some Government bursaries you could apply for:

MPUMALANGA GOVERNMENT BURSARIES FOR 2024 & 2024

Mpumalanga’s name means ‘east’ or ‘place where the sun rises’ in Zulu, Swazi, Ndebele, and Xhosa languages. The province contributes to 6.5% of the countries land area and before 1994, it was known as Eastern Transvaal. The province has an exquisite archaeological heritage, with landscapes covered in Bokoni stone walls- established between 1500 and 1820 A.D.

The current legislation of the Mpumalanga provincial government is an amalgamation between the former (before 1994) legislation and current legislation. The current prime minister of the province is Rifilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, who has been in power since 20 March 2024.

Almost 68% of the province is used for agriculture, farming various grains, flowers, nuts, sugar, vegetables, cotton, tobacco, tea, coffee, and more. The province also has 14% of its land used for natural grazing grounds for wool, mutton, beef, dairy, and poultry.

Gold was first discovered in the province in 1883 near the Barberton area, and the area is still used for gold mining today. Mpumalanga is responsible for 83% of South Africa’s coal production and mines many other valuable minerals, such as platinum, magnetite, zinc, and more.
Limpopo is also home to the famous Kruger National park, which was established in 1898 for the protection of wildlife; other attractions are also the province’s caves and canyons.

If you are a resident of the Mpumalanga province, here are some Government bursaries you could apply for:

NORTHERN CAPE GOVERNMENT BURSARIES FOR 2024 & 2024

The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province in the country. The Northern Cape’s capital is Kimberly which is a hob for diamond mining in the country.

The North West also has many attractive tourist sites such as the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and an international park that they share with Botswana. The Great Karoo is used as transport spots between various cities and Namaqualand is the region famous for the Namaqualand Daisies.

The majority of the people who live in the Northern Cape are Afrikaans speakers and the province is dominated by the ANC (African National Congress.) The Northern Cape has a rich heritage as it is also home to many members with San heritage. Cave sites in the province depict this heritage by rock art and engravings.

The provincial government consists of a 10 member executive council and premier, as well as a legislature. Each provincial assembly runs the province for a period of 5 years and re-awarded seats based on the percentage of votes they receive during elections.

The current Premier of the Northern Cape is Zamani Saul who has been in power since 2019 and is a member of the ANC.

If you are a resident of the Northern Cape province, here are some Government bursaries you could apply for:

NORTH WEST GOVERNMENT BURSARIES FOR 2024 & 2024

The North West province was formed after 1994, and once included part of the Transvaal and Cape Province. Its current capital is Mahikeng and, the North West is the birthplace of many major political leaders such as Moses Kotane, Abram Onkgopotse, and Lucas Manfope (just to name a few.)

The North West’s provincial government consists of its premier, Job Mokgoro (who was elected in 2024), as well as an executive council consisting of 10 ministers and a legislature.

Both the provincial assembly and premier is elected for a 5-year term and political parties are awarded assembly seat dependant on the percentage of votes they receive during the national elections.

The North West’s economy is heavily dependant on mining as it generates more than half of the province’s GDP. The main minerals that are mined are gold, uranium, platinum, and diamonds and the northern and western part of the province holds many ranches rich in livestock as well as entertainment districts such as the famous, Sun City.

If you are a resident of the North West province, here are some Government bursaries you could apply for:

WESTERN CAPE GOVERNMENT BURSARIES FOR 2024 & 2024

The Western Cape is the fourth largest province in the country, the third most populated, and the tourist attraction hob. Approximately 2/3 of the people living in the Western Cape stay in Cape Town which is also the capital of the province and largest city, next to George.

The Western Cape has a rich history regarding the aid of the liberation of black people in South Africa. The province’s university students played a major role in the Black Consciousness Movement in the ’60s, as they organized marches. Individuals in the province also took part in strikes to fight against the harsh laws and restrictions from the Apartheid government.

The provincial government of the province was established under the Constitution of the Western Cape, adopted in 1998. Every 5 years, 42 members of the Western Cape Provincial Government are elected who are then responsible for legislating within the responsibilities of the national constitution. In 2019, the DA (Democratic Alliance) won the provincial election and as such, the current premier of the Western Cape is Alan Winde.

The Western Cape contributes to 14% of the country’s GDP and the province’s Human Development Index is the highest in the country. The major economic sectors of the province are real estate, financial, and business service, contributing to R43.7 billion as of 2008- Cape Town is the most entrepreneurial city in the country. The Western Cape also has the most educated residents, with a very skilled workforce, compared to any other African Region. It has commendable education establishments such as the Universities of Cape Town and Western Cape, CPUT (Cape Peninsula University of Technology), Stellenbosch University, and the South African Military Academy.

If you are a resident of the Western Cape province, here are some Government bursaries you could apply for: