Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary South Africa 2026
The Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary Fund (VEBF) is an initiative of Communicare that supports students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in accessing higher education, particularly in scarce and critical skills identified by the South African government.
Bursary Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Bursary Provider | Vulamathuba Empumelelo (VEBF) |
| Academic Year | 2026 |
| Closing Date | 12 December 2025 |
| Notification Date | Shortlisted candidates notified by 13 February 2026 |
1. Eligible Fields and Study Levels
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Fields Covered | Undergraduate studies in government-declared scarce/critical skills |
| Study Level | Undergraduate (full-time or part-time) |
| Institutions | Public universities or TVET Colleges in South Africa |
| Residency | Must live within the City of Cape Town Metro Region |
2. Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary 2026, applicants must meet the following:
- Citizenship: South African citizen OR Permanent Residency Permit/Work Visa holder
- Community: Must be a Communicare tenant OR from a previously marginalized community
- Residency: Must reside within the City of Cape Town Metro
- Age: Between 19 and 50 years old
- Academics: Completed Matric with strong academic performance
- Financial Need:
- Household income under R400,000 per year
- Must pass means test
- Personal Qualities: Highly driven, positive, a team player, good communicator, creative, problem solver, and willing to volunteer
- Preference: Communicare tenants and historically disadvantaged students in Cape Town public institutions
3. Bursary Coverage and Exclusions
Coverage
The bursary will support recipients with:
- Registration fees
- Tuition fees (up to R40,000)
- Prescribed materials (up to R5,000)
- Examination fees (if applicable)
- Quarterly mentoring and academic support
Exclusions (NOT Covered)
- Electronic devices (laptops, phones, etc.)
- Stationery
- Outstanding loans or unpaid fees exceeding the bursary limit
4. Application Process
Applications consist of two compulsory steps:
Step 1: Download and Complete the Application Form
Download the Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary Application Form 2026
Step 2: Complete the Online Submission
Submit via the Vulamathuba Empumelelo Online Application Portal
Required Supporting Documents (Certified in the Last 6 Months)
- Completed application form
- Certified ID/passport copy
- Certified Permanent Residency/Work Visa (if applicable)
- Certified Matric certificate
- Latest academic transcript
- 2026 application/registration proof (institution letterhead)
- Certified proof of residence
- Certified IDs/passports/birth certificates of all household members
- 3 months' bank statements for all household members
- 3 months' income proof for all household members:
- Payslips (if employed)
- Affidavit (if unemployed)
- Financial statements (if self-employed)
- Grant proof, court orders, or death certificates
- Motivational essay (minimum 250 words)
5. Contact Information
For queries about the Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary:
Telephone: 021 421 6008
Email: applications@vulamathuba.org.za
Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary South Africa 2026
This bursary is managed by Vulamathuba Empumelelo, the community and social development arm of Communicare, focused on supporting students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue studies in scarce and critical skills.
| Detail | Information |
| Bursary Provider | Vulamathuba Empumelelo (VEBF). |
| Academic Year | 2026 |
| Closing Date | 12 December 2025 |
| Notification Date | Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 13 February 2026. |
1. Eligible Fields and Study Levels
| Category | Details |
| Fields Covered | Undergraduate studies within fields that are declared scarce or critical skills by the government. |
| Study Level | Undergraduate qualification (part-time or full-time). |
| Institution | Public higher education institution in South Africa (TVET College or University). |
| Residency | Must reside within the City of Cape Town Metro Region. |
2. Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must satisfy all the following minimum criteria:
Citizenship: Must be a South African citizen OR have a Permanent Residency Permit/Work Visa in South Africa.
Community: Must be a Communicare tenant OR a student from a previously marginalized community.
Residency: Must reside within the City of Cape Town Metro Region.
Age: Must be between 19 and 50 years old.
Academics: Must have completed Matric and demonstrate strong academic potential.
Financial Need:
Must have proven financial need (determined by a means test).
Gross household income must be NOT more than R400,000 per annum.
Personal Qualities: Must be enthusiastic, highly driven, positive, an excellent communicator, a team player, available to volunteer, a problem solver, creative, and innovative.
Preference: Will be given to Communicare tenants and students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds accepted at public institutions in the City of Cape Town.
3. Bursary Coverage and Exclusions
The bursary provides partial cover for certain expenses:
Registration fees.
Tuition fees (maximum value of R40,000).
Prescribed materials (maximum value of R5,000).
Examination fees (where applicable).
Successful recipients will receive quarterly mentoring.
Exclusions (Expenses NOT covered):
Electronic devices.
Stationery.
Outstanding study loans or tuition expenses above the maximum limits.
4. Application Process
Applications must follow two steps:
Step 1: Download and Complete the Form
Download and complete the Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary Application Form 2026.
Step 2: Complete the Online Submission
Complete the Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary Online Application 2026 and submit the required documents electronically.
Required Supporting Documents (Must be certified within the last 6 months):
Completed application form (from Step 1).
ID document or passport (certified copy).
Permanent Residency Permit or Work Visa, if applicable (certified copy).
Matric certificate (certified copy).
Most recent academic results (certified copy).
Proof of application/registration for 2026 (on institution's letterhead).
Proof of residence (certified copy).
ID document, Passport, or Birth Certificate of all household members (certified copies).
3 months recent bank statements for all household members (yours, spouse, parents, guardians, etc.).
3 months recent proof of ALL income for all household members (certified copies of latest payslips if employed, affidavit if unemployed, latest financial statements if self-employed, proof of government grant, court orders, death certificates, etc.).
Motivational essay (minimum 250 words).
5. Contact Information
For any queries related to this bursary programme, contact Vulamathuba Empumelelo directly:
Telephone: 021 421 6008
Email:
applications@vulamathuba.org.za
