Need a bursary or scholarship? Here’s where to get all the info you need…

Pippa Hudson speaks to Zodwa Mokoena, an inclusive education specialist, former journalist and news anchor.

Mokoena is an inclusive education specialist passionate about helping unlock opportunities, particularly by letting learners who need financial assistance know about scholarships and bursaries.

Inspired by work as an education journalist in rural areas, Mokoena passionately raises awareness about what help there is.

SAILI:

SAILI partners with: Rylands, Claremont, South Peninsula, Mondale and Spine Road High School.

Contact SAILI to register the child for scholarship testing via email: scholarships@saili.org.za

The Test is scheduled for Saturday, 29 June 2024.

Please visit SAILI’s Facebook page for updated details as their website is under construction. 

MAD Leadership Foundation:

Applications are open and will close on 30 June. 

For more information, visit this link or email applications@madleadership.org for assistance.

UCT Online School

Children applying for entry into:

1. Grades 8-10 must have a minimum of 50% average in both English (Home Language) and Mathematics
2. Grade 11 applicants must also obtain a minimum 50% average for English (Home Language) and 40% and above average in either Mathematics or Maths Literacy).

Applications are open and close on the 31 August. Visit this link for more information.

African Scholars' Fund

Applications are open and must reach the Foundation by 15 September.

For details on which schools the NGO partners with and information about how to apply, visit
www.asf.org.za/applications.

Investec 

Applications are open and must reach Investec’s partner, StudyTrust by the 30th
of September.

Please visit this link for further details. If you have any enquiries on the Bursary, email: CSIHighSchoolBursary@investec.co.za.

American International School of Cape Town 

Applications open in July for 2025. Please visit this link for more details.

SANRAL

To apply, parents and guardians need to complete an online application form and upload all the necessary supporting documents, this includes a motivation letter from parents and the child’s school, as well as a short essay from the scholar using the provided prompt.

Applications are open and close on 30 September, 2024.

Please visit www.nra.co.za for further information.

Curro

Applications for the 2025 Grade 6-10 class open on 10 June and close on 21 July.

For more information, visit this link or email info@rutasechaba.org

Students for a better future

Applications open on 14 June and close on 30 August, 2024.

For more information, visit www.studentsforabetterfuture.co.za 

CLP Foundation

The child needs a recommendation letter from their school.

They will also need to submit a 350-word essay using the provided prompt.

Applications are open and will close on 31st August 2024.

For more information, visit this link.

Allen Grey Orbis Foundation

Applications are open with the deadline to apply on 16 September, 2024.

Please visit this link for detailed information

Spirit Education Foundation

Applications for Grade 8 2026 open on 1 September 2024.

Please visit this link for more information. 

Mokoena also uses TikTok to distribute bursary and scholarship information, follow her @tsbiza.

Mokeona also helps learners take tests, write essays and prepare for bursary panel interviews.

Youth Month (June) is a great time to apply for bursaries because organisations leverage youth-focused initiatives during this month for young South Africans to take advantage of, says Mokoena.

"Everytime I spoke about the injustices that are happening in those landscapes, I thought, 'Am I ever going to make a difference from where I am because you have to be in those areas to make a difference?'. So I thought, 'What can I do that's closest to me using skills and tools that I'm quite good at?' So, I started looking at scholarships and bursaries and I realised that these things are available to us."

- Zodwa Mokoena, Inclusive Education Specialist

"TikTok is such an invaluable resource, so l love TikTok because it's immediate and you can reach people in areas and communities you might never have expected."

- Zodwa Mokoena, Inclusive Education Specialist

The first step to applying for a bursary or scholarship is to see what is available at the school your kids are at or want to go to where either a portion or 100% of the fees with travel and/or accommodation are covered. 

Mokoena has put together a document of academic and non-academic related scholarships and bursaries programmes currently available, find the list here.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.