VerifiedVulamathuba Empumelelo is the community and social development arm of Communicare, a long-standing Cape Town social enterprise best known for affordable rental housing. Vulamathuba Empumelelo empowers people from marginalised communities through psychosocial support, education and skills development so they can reach their potential and become self-reliant.
- Registered name
- Vulamathuba Empumelelo (Communicare)
- Type
- Non-profit community development organisation (Communicare group)
- Fields funded
- Undergraduate scarce and critical skills, full-time or part-time
- Website
- vulamathuba.org.za
- Phone
- 021 421 6008
Housing and economic mobility
Communicare’s mission centres on economic mobility, and Vulamathuba Empumelelo carries that mission into education and development for Communicare tenants and surrounding communities, according to a provider record checked in August 2026. Vulamathuba’s three focus areas are economic independence and resilience, social cohesion through tenant engagement, and independent living to support tenants’ health and wellbeing.
Programmes in Communicare complexes
Vulamathuba runs weekly after-school dance sessions, presented by professional contemporary dancers, at four Communicare complexes so children are safe while parents work. A food gardening project lets tenants grow organic vegetables in raised beds, which especially helps seniors at complexes such as MontClaire Place in Mandalay, where the SASSA grant is often the main income. Older persons’ programmes promote physical activity and social interaction, and Vulamathuba has partnered with the Western Cape Mobility Department on a driver’s licence initiative.
The bursary fund
Siphosethu Gajana, Vulamathuba’s programme coordinator, describes the Bursary Fund as part of the goal of increasing beneficiaries’ economic mobility, because graduates’ earning power and living standards improve. The fund supports economically disadvantaged Cape Town residents aged 19 to 50 studying scarce or critical skills, full-time or part-time, at public TVET colleges and universities. It covers registration and examination fees, tuition up to R40 000 and materials up to R5 000, with preference for Communicare tenants.
Beneficiaries show the range: Alice Nikuze, 30, from Brooklyn, studies a BSc in Computing through UNISA to become a software engineer, while Jordan Bougard, 18, studies architecture at CPUT and volunteers at Vulamathuba as a bursary condition. Bursars do community service during their studies and are expected to work back a portion of the bursary within the Communicare group or a nominated organisation.
The 2026 round closed on 12 December 2025, so expect the next call around November 2026.
How to research Vulamathuba
Read Vulamathuba’s articles on mentorship and apply through its official portal. Adult learners should note the age limit of 50.
See the Western Cape Government Bursaries.
🎓 Download Our Bursary Application Checklist
Download our free Application Checklist to make sure you do not miss any required documents. Submitting a complete application is key to being shortlisted.
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