Emfuleni Municipality Bursary 2027: How to Apply

Key facts

Status: Applications closed Closed 28 November 2025
Provider: Emfuleni Local Municipality
Study level: Undergraduate, Postgraduate, High school
Academic year: 2027
Applications open: 1 October 2025
Last checked: September 2026

The 2026 round opened on 1 October 2025 and closed on 28 November 2025 at 16:00.

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

No open round · the last round we could find closed on 28 November 2025 Based on the last two cycles, expect applications to open around 1 October 2026 and close in late November 2026. Latest update ↓

Emfuleni Local Municipality covers Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging, Sebokeng, Evaton, Sharpeville, Boipatong and Bophelong in the Vaal Triangle, Gauteng. Its Mayoral Bursary funds first-year tertiary study for young residents from low-income households. The bursary policy was amended in December 2022 to allow postgraduate funding and private-sector co-funding, and around 30 students are approved in a typical year.

About the Emfuleni Local Municipality Bursary

The bursary provides full financial support for undergraduate study, including:

Registration and tuition fees.
Textbooks and a laptop.
Accommodation and meals for selected students, based on need.

Fields of study are commerce, law, engineering (electrical, civil and chemical), human and social sciences, science and technology, and other scarce or critical skills identified by the municipality. Preference is given to students at local institutions such as the Vaal University of Technology and North-West University’s Vanderbijlpark campus, then to institutions in Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and the rest of Gauteng.

Emfuleni Bursary eligibility requirements

South African citizen living within Emfuleni Local Municipality.
In Matric, or have completed Matric, with an average of at least 60%.
Entering first year of undergraduate study at a recognised South African institution, with proof of admission.
Combined household income of no more than R350 000 a year. Families on the municipality’s indigent register get first preference.
Not funded by NSFAS or any other bursary.

How to apply for the Emfuleni Bursary

When the call opens, download the application form from emfuleni.gov.za or collect it from municipal offices and public libraries.
Complete the form and attach certified copies of: your ID; your Matric certificate or latest results; proof of admission from the institution on its letterhead, showing the cost of study; a testimonial letter from the high school where you matriculated; a municipal account proving residence in Emfuleni; proof of your parents’ or guardians’ income; and proof of indigent registration if applicable.
Hand-deliver the application to the Mayor’s Office, Emfuleni Local Municipality, Corner Klasie Havenga and Frikkie Meyer Boulevard, Vanderbijlpark, before 16:00 on the closing day.
Successful applicants sign a bursary contract with the municipality early in the academic year.

Emfuleni Bursary closing date

The 2026 round closed on 28 November 2025 at 16:00. The 2027 closing date has not been published; expect late November 2026.

Contact details

Mayor’s Office: 084 686 4418
Email: MarthaM@emfuleni.gov.za or Mayorsoffice@emfuleni.gov.za
Address: Corner Klasie Havenga and Frikkie Meyer Boulevard, PO Box 3, Vanderbijlpark, 1900

Vaal students should also check the Sedibeng District Municipality and Gauteng provincial schemes on our government bursaries page.

FAQs

1. When do 2027 applications open? +

The municipality has not yet published the 2027 call. The 2026 round ran from 1 October to 28 November 2025, so expect the 2027 round to open around 1 October 2026 and close in late November 2026 at 16:00.

2. Who qualifies? +

South African citizens living in Emfuleni Local Municipality (Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging, Sebokeng, Evaton, Sharpeville, Boipatong, Bophelong and surrounds) with a Matric average of at least 60%, entering first year of undergraduate study, from households earning no more than R350 000 a year.

3. Which courses are funded? +

Commerce, law, engineering (electrical, civil, chemical), human and social sciences, science and technology, and other scarce and critical skills identified by the municipality. Local institutions such as VUT and NWU Vaal are preferred.

4. What does it cover? +

Registration, tuition, textbooks and a laptop, with accommodation and meals for selected students in need.

5. How do I apply? +

Download the form from emfuleni.gov.za or collect it from municipal offices and libraries, attach certified documents and hand-deliver it to the Mayor's Office at the civic centre in Vanderbijlpark before the closing time.

6. Can I hold NSFAS and this bursary? +

No. Students already funded by NSFAS or another bursary are not considered.

7. Who do I contact? +

The Mayor's Office on 084 686 4418, or MarthaM@emfuleni.gov.za and Mayorsoffice@emfuleni.gov.za.

Update note (checked September 2026): the 2026 round opened on 1 October 2025 and closed on 28 November 2025 at 16:00. The 2027 call has not yet been published. Based on the last two cycles, expect applications to open around 1 October 2026 and close in late November 2026. Prepare your certified documents now, because the window is short and applications must be hand-delivered.

This round is not open right now. Check the provider’s own site for the next round.

Visit the provider’s website

Paper applications go to:

the Mayor's Office, Emfuleni Local Municipality, Corner Klasie Havenga and Frikkie Meyer Boulevard, Vanderbijlpark

About Emfuleni Local Municipality

Local government (local municipality)

Emfuleni Local Municipality covers about 987 square kilometres of the Vaal Triangle in southern Gauteng, including Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Sebokeng, Evaton, Sharpeville, Boipatong, Bophelong and Tshepiso. The Vaal River forms Emfuleni's southern boundary, and the municipality is home to…

Read the full Emfuleni Local Municipality profile →

Address: Cnr Klasie Havenga & Frikkie Meyer Boulevard, Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, 1900
Phone: 084 686 4418
Email: mayorsoffice@emfuleni.gov.za
Website: emfuleni.gov.za