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Ingquza Hill Local Municipality is one of five local municipalities in the OR Tambo District of the Eastern Cape, located in the district’s north-west. The municipality’s seat is in Lusikisiki, and the municipal area is divided into 32 wards.
- Registered name
- Ingquza Hill Local Municipality
- Type
- Local government (local municipality)
- Fields funded
- Undergraduate university study for young residents
- Website
- ihlm.gov.za
A municipality facing large backlogs
Ingquza Hill Local Municipality describes an area rich in history, cultural heritage and natural beauty, from its iconic hills to its coastline. The municipality also states its challenges openly: huge backlogs in infrastructure and high levels of poverty. Ingquza Hill says it focuses on driving service delivery and promoting economic development.
The name comes from Ingquza Hill, the site of the 1960 Pondoland revolt, which gives the municipality a strong place in South African history.
A small bursary from the municipality’s own budget
Ingquza Hill Local Municipality funds a small annual bursary from its own budget for residents, aimed at reducing the financial barriers that stop local matriculants from starting undergraduate study at university. The scheme is small: only a handful of bursaries are awarded each year, with four in one recent intake, according to a provider record checked in August 2026.
The provider record lists eligibility rules that include being aged 18 to 35 and living within the Ingquza Hill municipal area.
What that means for applicants
With so few awards, competition is fierce. A strong matric result, a clear motivation and complete documents matter, and applicants should never rely on this bursary alone.
How residents can research and prepare
Visit the municipal offices in Lusikisiki or check ihlm.gov.za for the bursary advert, and ask the municipality when applications open, which documents it needs and whether TVET study qualifies. Ask your ward councillor for a proof of residence letter well before the deadline.
Apply for NSFAS at the same time, and look at district and provincial funders in the Eastern Cape. The municipality’s website also lists employment position descriptions, which shows the skills the municipality hires.
Lusikisiki and Flagstaff are the main towns in the municipality, and many residents live in rural villages across the 32 wards. Students from remote villages should plan extra time to reach the municipal offices and collect documents.
See our Eastern Cape Government Bursaries page for OR Tambo District students.
