Lephalale Municipality Mayoral Bursary Fund

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Lephalale Local Municipality, in the Waterberg district of Limpopo, funds a small number of local students each year through its Mayoral Bursary Fund. The municipality’s advert links the fund to the town’s growth, describing Lephalale as one of the fastest growing towns in Limpopo because of its coal reserves, coal mining and processing, and electricity generation. The bursary is aimed at matriculants and first-year tertiary students from households where the parents are unemployed or indigent. The round for the 2026 academic year was advertised on 6 January 2026 and closed on 30 January 2026. No call for 2027 had been posted on lephalale.gov.za by 29 September 2026.

Tuition, a room and meals, and books for some

According to notice V01/2025/26, the bursary covers tuition fees, accommodation and meals. Prescribed books are handled differently: the municipality provides them “for most needy students only”, so not every bursar receives a book allowance. The advert does not give a Rand limit, a number of awards or any work-back obligation.

Fields tied to the local economy

Both the 2025 and 2026 adverts named the same study fields:

• Financial Studies
• Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering
• Town and Regional Planning
• Mining-related studies
• Other scarce skills

The municipality’s application form adds that learners must study in a field “beneficial to the municipality”, and that preference goes to learners who take or have passed Mathematics, Physical Science, Commerce and Technology as key subjects. Students aiming at mining qualifications can also compare the mining engineering bursaries we list, and those planning to study planning can see town and regional planning bursaries.

Need, results and a home visit

Selection combines financial need with academic record. The 2026 advert set these minimum requirements:

• The applicant is a resident of Lephalale Local Municipality.
• The applicant’s parents are unemployed or classified as indigent.
• The applicant shows consistent good academic performance.
• Students already at a tertiary institution attach a CV. Shortlisted tertiary candidates go through compulsory psychometric assessments and interviews.

The municipality tests need in person. Its officials conduct a means test by visiting the applicant’s home to establish the need. The award is only finalised, or in the advert’s word “sealed”, once the municipality receives the applicant’s acceptance letter and proof of admission from a tertiary institution.

Documents and the two ways to submit

The application form, called the Mayoral Bursary form, was available at the Civic Centre offices and municipal libraries, and on the Lephalale bursaries page, which also keeps the 2026 advert and earlier ones. The 2026 advert asked for the completed form with:

• a letter of motivation
• the latest statement of results
• a certified copy of the parents’ or guardians’ ID
• an income statement or salary advice, or an affidavit that the parents or guardians are unemployed
• proof of residential address
• a certified copy of the applicant’s ID

Applications were posted to The Municipal Manager, Lephalale Municipality, Private Bag X136, Lephalale 0555, or hand delivered to the Civic Centre on the corner of Joe Slovo and Douwater, Onverwacht. The enquiries contact for 2026 was Ms Matlhabe on 014 762 1446. There was no email or online route.

January deadlines in recent years

The municipality’s own document list shows how the fund has run. The 2025 advert was dated 1 January 2025 and closed on 17 January 2025. The 2026 advert was dated 6 January 2026 and closed on 30 January 2026. Lephalale has not announced dates for the 2027 academic year, so Matric learners in the municipality should keep an eye on the bursaries page and the Civic Centre notice boards. Other public funders in the province are listed on our Limpopo government bursaries page.

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