The South Deep Education Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering communities through education and skills development. Primarily focused on South Deep Mine host communities in South Africa, the Trust provides financial assistance, bursaries, and support programs to help students access quality education. Its initiatives aim to uplift individuals and families by fostering academic excellence, career readiness, and socio-economic growth. By prioritizing education as a pathway to long-term sustainability, the Trust plays a vital role in enabling brighter futures for its beneficiaries.
Established in 2015, the South Deep Education Trust Bursary Programme aims to fund students from their host and labour-sending areas, helping them pursue tertiary studies.
About the SDET Bursary Programme – Fields Covered
The South Deep Education Trust is inviting students to apply for their bursary programme for the 2025 academic year. Bursaries are available for Diploma and Degree studies in any field, whether technical or non-technical, for students from South Deep Mine’s host and labour-sending areas.
More About the SDET Bursary Programme – Expenses Covered & Benefits
The bursary covers:
- Full tuition fees
- Textbooks
- Equipment (for specialized qualifications like dentistry, architecture, engineering, etc.)
- Accommodation (both on-campus and off-campus)
- Laptop allowance
- Monthly stipend (for 10 months)
Additionally, students will receive personal development assistance, mentorship support, and extra tutoring on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the SDET Trustees. Bursary recipients are encouraged to complete one week of vacation or volunteering work in their community each year to gain valuable skills for entering the workforce.
Note: Students who fail any modules must repeat them at their own expense.
Eligibility Requirements for the SDET Bursary
To apply, you must:
- Have a total household income of not more than R350,000 per annum
- Reside in a South Deep host community or surrounding areas (Westonaria, Bekkersdal, Simunye, Poortjie) or a South Deep Labour Sending Area (KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Eastern Cape)
- Not be a dependent of a Gold Fields employee or a Trustee of the South Deep Education and Community Trusts
- Be currently in Matric (in 2024) or have completed Matric
- Be planning to study towards a Diploma or Degree in any field
- Be studying or provisionally accepted at a public university or public TVET college in South Africa in 2025
- Not have any other existing bursaries, scholarships, or funding assistance for your tertiary studies
- Have achieved a minimum overall average of 75% (excluding Life Orientation) in your Matric final National Senior Certificate if currently in Matric
- Have achieved a minimum overall average of 65% in your most recent year of study if currently studying and a first-time applicant
- Have passed the most recent year of study if a returning SDET bursary applicant
How to Apply for the SDET Bursary
Submit your application online at: https://integrit.tshikululu.org.za/fcTshikululu_External/Account/LogOn?&ID=20224&CallType=ind
Enter “busa.hlayiso.com” when asked how you heard about the SDET bursary.
Students may read the SDET Bursary Guide before applying.
Read here: https://tshikululu.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TSHIKULULU-INDIVIDUAL-APPLICATION-GUIDE.pdf
Submit clear copies of the following documents with your online application:
- ID document (certified copy)
- Latest Matric results/certificate (certified copy)
- Full academic record if currently studying (certified copy)
- Proof of tertiary acceptance/provisional acceptance
- Proof of residence (certified copy)
- Parents’ or guardians’ or your own proof of household income (latest payslips if employed, affidavit if unemployed, proof of SASSA grant or pension if applicable)
Closing Date
31 January 2025 – make sure to apply before this date to be considered.
Contact Details
For any queries, contact the South Deep Education Administration directly:
- Contact person: Mbali Dlanga (Trust Administrator)
- Tel: 011 544 0300
- Email: southdeepeducation@tshikululu.org.za