African Rainbow Minerals Limited

African Rainbow Minerals Limited (ARM) calls itself a niche, diversified South African mining company. Patrice Motsepe founded ARM, which is listed on the JSE and based in Sandton. ARM mines and beneficiates iron ore, manganese ore, platinum group metals, nickel and coal in South Africa, produces manganese alloys in Malaysia, and holds a strategic investment in gold through its shareholding in Harmony Gold.

Registered name

African Rainbow Minerals Limited

Type

Private company (diversified mining)

Fields funded

Engineering, science, technology and commerce at the University of Pretoria and North-West University

Website

arm.co.za

A mining house built on joint ventures

ARM describes a long history of joint ventures, in which ARM combines its capabilities with those of partners to run operations. Assmang, the manganese and iron ore miner that ARM co-owns with Assore, is one example, and ARM’s platinum and coal interests also sit in partnerships. ARM lists improving the lives of communities neighbouring its operations among its commitments.

An ARM bursary at two universities

The ARM bursary is narrower than many mining bursaries in one important way: ARM funds students at only two universities, the University of Pretoria and North-West University. Within those universities, ARM supports engineering, science, technology and commerce fields linked to its operations. Students at other institutions cannot use this route, however strong their results.

ARM also runs a late cycle. Most mining houses close bursaries in the middle of the year, but ARM advertises in January and closes in the first quarter; the 2026 round closed on 6 March 2026. Matriculants who receive good results in January therefore still have a chance at ARM funding for the same academic year.

Assmang is not the same bursary

Students sometimes confuse ARM with Assmang. Assmang runs its own bursaries through its Black Rock and Khumani mines in the Northern Cape, with local residency rules, while the ARM bursary depends on the university you attend. Check which company advertised a call before sending documents.

To confirm eligibility, contact the bursary office at the University of Pretoria or North-West University and ask whether ARM is funding your programme in the coming year. ARM publishes integrated reports for each financial year ending 30 June, and those reports describe the company’s skills development spending in more detail.

Mining and engineering students can compare ARM with other mining houses on our mining engineering bursaries page and read the Assmang manganese bursary guide.