The SIOC Community Development Trust (SIOC-CDT) is accepting bursary applications for the 2027 academic year, and funding includes tuition, accommodation, study materials, a once-off laptop and a monthly stipend. You qualify if you come from Gamagara, Ga-Segonyana, Joe Morolong, Tsantsabane or Thabazimbi, are 35 or younger, and have an NSC average of at least 65%. Applications must reach SIOC-CDT by 12:00 on Monday, 30 November 2026.
About the SIOC-CDT Bursary Programme 2027
The SIOC Community Development Trust is a community trust that channels mining-related benefits into development projects in the areas around the Sishen iron ore operations. Education is one of its main focus areas, and the bursary programme is how it turns that into places at universities.
The bursary is aimed at young people who live in, or come from, five local municipalities: Gamagara, Ga-Segonyana, Joe Morolong and Tsantsabane in the Northern Cape, and Thabazimbi in Limpopo. Postgraduate students may also apply, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Funding is competitive and an application does not guarantee an award. Submit early, attach every document, and make sure your proof of residence shows you belong to one of the qualifying areas.
What the Bursary Covers
- Registration and tuition fees
- Accommodation
- Prescribed study material
- A once-off laptop
- A monthly stipend, with the amount set in the bursary agreement
- Assistive devices for students with disabilities
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Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Live in, or originate from, Gamagara, Ga-Segonyana, Joe Morolong, Tsantsabane or Thabazimbi
- No older than 35 on the closing date
- Acceptance or provisional acceptance at a public higher education institution for 2027
- Combined gross annual household income of no more than R600,000
- An NSC average of at least 65%
- Postgraduate students may apply
- People with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Required Documents
- Certified copy of your South African ID
- Certified latest matric results, including mid-year Grade 12 results, or latest academic results for later-year students
- Certified final NSC result if you matriculated before 2026
- Proof of acceptance, provisional acceptance or application to a public institution
- Proof of residence dated within the last three months
- Parent or guardian income proof such as recent payslips, or a sworn affidavit of unemployment
- SASSA grant recipient certificate, if applicable
- Three months of bank statements
- Medical certificate confirming the disability, if applicable
How to Apply
- Check that you live in or come from one of the five qualifying areas.
- Gather your certified documents and proof of residence.
- Complete the SIOC-CDT 2027 bursary application form online, or download the PDF form for a manual application.
- For a manual application, hand-deliver the form to the SIOC-CDT office in Kathu (SIOC-CDT Office Park, Block A, Ground Floor, corner Hendrick van Eck and Ian Flemming Road) or the Thabazimbi Business Hub (11 Jourdain Street, Mollies Building).
- Make sure your application reaches SIOC-CDT before 12:00 on 30 November 2026.
Apply at SIOC-CDT (application details)
Closing Date
The closing date for SIOC-CDT Bursary Programme 2027 is Monday, 30 November 2026 at 12:00 midday. No late applications will be accepted.
Why It Matters
In mining towns, young people often grow up beside large operations without a clear route into the jobs and professions those operations create. A bursary tied to your home community closes part of that gap.
Tuition, accommodation, a laptop and a stipend remove the costs that make many students drop out in first year. For a household earning under R600,000, that package is worth more than a fee waiver alone.
The strongest applications are complete ones. Missing proof of residence or income is the most common reason bursary forms are rejected, so collect those first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to live in one of the five areas now?
You must live in or originate from Gamagara, Ga-Segonyana, Joe Morolong, Tsantsabane or Thabazimbi.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. You must be no older than 35 on the closing date.
Can postgraduate students apply?
Yes, postgraduate students may apply.
Is the stipend amount fixed?
The amount is set in the bursary agreement and confirmed during the application process.
