Verified
The South African Breweries (SAB) is South Africa’s leading brewer and part of AB InBev, the world’s largest brewing group. SAB marked 130 years in 2025, describing its SAB 130 campaign as a statement of intent to keep creating value and build a legacy beyond beer.
- Registered name
- The South African Breweries (Pty) Ltd (SAB)
- Type
- Private company (brewing, part of AB InBev)
- Fields funded
- Engineering and science fields for brewing, packaging, automation and supply chain
- Website
- sab.co.za
From Johannesburg brewer to AB InBev
SAB was founded in Johannesburg in 1895, during the gold rush. Over the following century SAB grew into SABMiller, one of the world’s largest brewers, before AB InBev acquired SABMiller in 2016. SAB brews beer brands such as Castle Lager and Carling Black Label at breweries across South Africa.
Water, farming and taverns
SAB says it has long championed local sourcing and strengthened the economy through beer, which it calls a local, natural and inclusive product. SAB’s annual State of the Beer Economy event, held at its Caledon Farm Research and Development Facility in the Western Cape, highlights the beer sector’s contribution to agriculture, including locally grown barley and hops.
On World Water Day 2025, SAB joined the Mayor of Cape Town, The Nature Conservancy and WWF to celebrate a partnership to restore 3.3 billion litres of water by clearing invasive plants in catchments. SAB’s Responsible Trading Programme aims to improve standards at taverns after tragedies drew attention to underage drinking and unsafe venues.
A culture of owners
SAB’s purpose is to “dream big to create a future with more cheers”, guided by ten principles. SAB describes its workplace as “a culture of owners”, where every action matters, and SAB was recognised as a Top Employer in South Africa in 2025.
SAB bursaries
SAB’s bursaries fund top engineering and science students for brewing, packaging, control and automation, and supply chain roles, with summer school or vacation work on real business challenges and a graduate trainee post after qualifying. Funded fields change each year. SAB’s most recent widely reported round opened in August 2024, and no 2027 call had been published when BursariesAfrica checked.
How to research SAB
Check the careers pages on SAB’s and AB InBev’s websites for bursary and graduate listings. Learn how brewing works, from malting barley to fermentation and packaging, and think about how your engineering field fits into a brewery. Students should also consider whether they are comfortable working for an alcohol producer.
See the Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa guide for another beverage manufacturer.
