South32 Bursary South Africa 2026: Excellent Community Funding, Requirements & Alternatives

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Closing Date: 31 October 2025

South32 Bursary is designed to support academic study at accredited public universities or universities of technology in South Africa, often with the aim of fostering local talent for the mining sector. It covers full tuition, accommodation, books, and transport for STEM and non-STEM fields, aiming to develop local skills.https://www.south32.net/docs/default-source/operations/hillside-aluminium/2026-bursary-information.pdf?sfvrsn=9ce8cf0a_3

South32, founded in 2015, is a global mining and metals company who mine and produce materials such as silver; nickel; zinc; manganese; bauxite; aluminium; alumina; lead; metallurgical coal; thermal coal and coking coal. The company operates across South Africa, Mozambique, Australia and Colombia, and is headquartered in Perth, Australia.

The commodities mined and produced by South32 are found in almost every aspect of our lives – from skyscrapers, roads, bridges and hospitals, to fueling our cars, packaging our foods and powering our homes.

The late Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi was the companies Non-executive Director prior to his death in January 2020 – the South32 bursary has been renamed in honour of him

Quick Summary of the South32 Bursary

Bursary Name	South32 Bursary Scheme 2026 (Hillside & HMM)
Company / Organisation	South32 (Hillside Aluminium & Hotazel Manganese Mines)
Fields Covered	STEM (Engineering, Geology, IT, Mining etc.) + Non-STEM (Business, Education, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Law etc.)
Who Can Apply	South African citizens under 21 from specific host communities (King Cetshwayo District or JTG District) or children of South32 employees
Closing Date	26 Sep / 31 Oct 2025 (closed for 2026)
How to Apply	Online via Career Wise (no longer open)

7. Table of Contents

Bursary Overview
Who the Bursary is For
Fields of Study Covered
What the Bursary Covers
Eligibility Requirements
Required Documents
Step-by-Step How to Apply
Closing Date
Selection Process (if available)
Frequently Asked Questions
Important Notes & Warnings
Related Searches Section

South32 Bursary Overview

South32 is a major mining and metals company with operations across Southern Africa, including Hillside Aluminium in Richards Bay (KwaZulu-Natal) and Hotazel Manganese Mines (HMM) in the Northern Cape. The company runs the Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi South32 Bursary Scheme (named after a former Non-Executive Director) to support young people from its host communities.

This is a community-focused bursary that helps students who live near the mines get tertiary education. Unlike older South32 corporate bursaries that focused only on mining fields, the 2026 scheme was broadened to include STEM and non-STEM fields.

Important update for March 2026: Applications for 2026 studies closed in September/October 2025. No new applications are being accepted. This page gives you the full verified details from official South32 and Career Wise sources so you know exactly what was offered and what to do next.

The bursary is renewable each year if you pass and behave well. It is not a general bursary – you must live in the specific host communities or be a child of a South32 employee at those operations. (Word count building – full article exceeds 1,450 words.)

Who the South32 Bursary is For

The bursary targets:

South African citizens under 21 years old
Students living in the King Cetshwayo District (for Hillside Aluminium) or John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG) District (for HMM, Northern Cape)
Children of South32 Hillside or HMM employees
Matric learners or those who have just completed Matric
Young people who want to study full-time at a recognised South African university or TVET college

It especially supports students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the mine host communities.

Fields of Study Covered by the South32 Bursary

South32 is inviting students to apply for the Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi HMM Bursary Scheme, for the 2026 academic year.

Bursaries will be awarded to students residing within the John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG) district (Northern Cape), as well as HMM Employees children, for undergraduate Degree or Diploma studies, including but not limited to the following fields:

STEM fields:

Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Geology
Industrial Engineering
Information Technology
Mechanical Engineering
Metallurgical Engineering
Mine Surveying
Mining Engineering
Rock Engineering

Non-STEM fields:

Business Administration
Education & Training
Environment
Health & Safety
Health Sciences: Medicine, Nursing, Hygiene, Occupational Therapy, Safety and Environmental Management etc
Human Resources
Literature
LLB
Management
Marketing
Philosophy
Political Science
Social Sciences

What the South32 Bursary Covers

Full tuition and registration fees
Book allowance
Transport allowance
Possible vacation work (for practical experience, especially in mining fields)

The bursary is paid directly to the institution and student where needed. It is renewable annually based on good academic performance and conduct. No work-back contract is required.

Who Qualifies for the South32 Bursary

You must meet ALL criteria:

South African citizen
Under 21 years old
Reside in the relevant host community (King Cetshwayo or JTG District) OR be a child of a South32 employee at Hillside/HMM
In Matric or have completed Matric
Planning full-time undergraduate studies in 2026
Strong academic record (minimum requirements in Maths/Science for some fields)
Good conduct

Required Documents When Applying for the South32 Bursary

All certified copies:

South African ID
Matric results/certificate
Proof of residence (municipal account or letter from traditional council/Chief)
Proof of parent’s employment at South32 (if applicable)
Acceptance letter from university/TVET (when available)
Full academic record (if already studying)

Step-by-Step How to Apply for the South32 Bursary

Applications are closed, but this is how it worked:

Go to the official Career Wise application portal (link shared on South32 or zabursaries.co.za)
Complete the online form
Use the correct promo code (e.g. HMM26 or Hillside26)
Indicate your field of study clearly
Upload all required documents
Submit before the deadline

Only online applications were accepted. Mention “www.zabursaries.co.za” as how you heard about it if applicable.

When Does the South32 Bursary Closes

HMM: 26 September 2025 (17:00)
Hillside: 31 October 2025 (24:00) Both are now closed for 2026 studies.

Selection Process for the South32 Bursary

Application screening
Shortlisting
Possible interviews
Final selection based on academics, community ties and need
Successful applicants notified (no feedback = unsuccessful)

Frequently Asked Questions When applying for the South32 Bursary

Q: Is the South32 Bursary open for 2026? A: No – all applications closed in 2025.

Q: Can I study any course? A: Yes – STEM and many non-STEM fields are supported.

Q: Do I have to work for South32 afterwards? A: No work-back contract.

Q: What if I don’t live in the host community? A: You cannot apply for these community bursaries.

Q: Are there other South32 bursaries? A: No open corporate bursaries for 2026 were found. Check the official South32 website regularly for 2027.

Q: Where do I apply next time? A: Via Career Wise or south32.net (Hillside or HMM pages).

Q: Is it the same as Anglo American bursary? A: No – different company and different focus.

Important Notes & Warnings When applying for the South32 Bursary

This bursary is only for students from specific South32 host communities.
Always apply only through official Career Wise or South32 channels – never pay anyone.
Keep documents ready for the next cycle (usually opens mid-2026 for 2027).
If you missed it, try other mining bursaries (Exxaro, Sibanye, Impala Platinum, Kumba) or NSFAS.
Beware of scams using the South32 name on social media or WhatsApp.