Collins Chabane Municipality Mayoral Bursary Fund

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Collins Chabane Local Municipality, the Vhembe district municipality centred on Malamulele in Limpopo, runs a small Mayoral Bursary Fund for young people from its poorest households. It is not a full bursary. The municipality’s most recent advert, for the 2026 academic year, said the award “will only cover the registration fees” at a university or other tertiary institution. That round closed on 14 January 2026, and no call for 2027 had been published by 27 September 2026.

Only children of indigent households qualify

The fund is limited to applicants whose parents are officially registered as indigent residents of Collins Chabane. The application form asks for the household’s indigent number, and the municipality’s checklist asks for proof of indigent status. A family that has never registered on the municipality’s indigent register will need to do that first. The other conditions on the form are:

• South African citizenship. Non-citizens are not considered.
• Study towards a degree or diploma at a recognised tertiary institution. The 2026 advert invited matriculants heading to institutions anywhere in South Africa.
• Senior students must have passed the previous year of study.
• An acceptance, or a conditional acceptance while waiting for Grade 12 results, from the institution. Applications are only processed once this is in place.

The seven fields targeted in the 2026 advert

The application form says council places no restriction on field of study, but it also says the municipality “will only fund a course which is relevant to Local Government”. The 2026 advert was more specific and listed these target fields:

• Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering
• Town Planning
• Information Technology
• Commerce, named as Financial Management, Internal Audit, Risk Management and Economics
• Law

How many learners the fund helps

The fund is small. In its 2024/25 annual report, Collins Chabane recorded that it met its target of awarding registration bursaries to 10 learners by 30 June 2025, after 14 learners were funded the year before. Money goes straight to the institution. The form adds that the only payment made to a student personally is for private accommodation, and the 2026 advert made no mention of accommodation. The bursary carries no work-back: a recipient does not have to work for the municipality afterwards, and the municipality does not promise a job. Successful applicants sign a bursary agreement, and anyone who refuses to sign loses the allocation.

Documents and delivery for the last round

The 2026 advert asked for the completed form plus:

• certified copies of the ID or birth certificate of the applicant and of both parents
• certified proof of both parents’ income
• a certified copy of the matric results
• proof of registration at the tertiary institution
• proof of residence from a ward councillor or traditional leader (induna)
• a motivation letter (the form suggests about 150 words)

The form also asks for a CV, the institution’s banking details on bank letterhead, and a sworn affidavit signed by applicant and parent before a commissioner of oaths. Paper forms were available from the municipality’s HR office, registry and Mayor’s office, the Saselamani and Vuwani satellite offices and Njhakanjhaka Hall at Hlanganani. The 2026 application form could also be downloaded. Applications had to be hand-delivered to the Municipal Manager at 225 Collins Chabane Drive, Old DCO Building, Malamulele. Faxed and emailed applications, and those missing documents, were disqualified.

The downloadable form still carries dates left over from an older template, such as a “31 December 201_” closing date. The 2026 bursary advert is the document that gave the real deadline: 14 January 2026 at 16:30. Applicants who heard nothing within 30 days were told to treat their application as unsuccessful. Enquiries go to the Senior Manager: Corporate Services on (015) 851 0110. The form also names a bursary contact, raymond.hlungwani@collinschabane.gov.za, for questions only.

Because the fund pays only registration, students will need other money for tuition and living costs. Residents of the wider district can also look at the Vhembe District Mayoral Bursary and the Limpopo government bursaries list. Engineering applicants can check the civil engineering bursaries.

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