The SDET Bursary Programme offers an excellent opportunity for students from South Deep Mine’s host and labour-sending areas to pursue higher education in any field—technical or non-technical. Here’s an overview of the key details:

Bursary Benefits:

• Tuition Fees: Full coverage
• Textbooks & Equipment: Provided on a case-by-case basis (e.g., for specialized qualifications like engineering, dentistry, etc.)
• Accommodation: On-campus or off-campus coverage
• Laptop Allowance
• Monthly Stipend: Provided for 10 months
• Additional Support: Personal development, mentorship, and tutoring (if needed)
• Community Engagement: One week of volunteer or vacation work per year to gain real-world experience

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Household Income: Must not exceed R350,000 per year.
2. Residency: Must live in one of the following:
   • South Deep host communities (Westonaria, Bekkersdal, Simunye, Poortjie), or
   • South Deep Labour Sending Areas (KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Eastern Cape)
3. Dependents: Not eligible if you are a dependent of a Gold Fields employee or a Trustee of the South Deep Education and Community Trust.
4. Matric Status: Must be in Matric in 2024 or have already completed Matric.
5. Tertiary Education: Must have applied or been provisionally accepted at a public university or TVET college in South Africa for 2025.
6. Academic Performance:
   • For Matriculants: Minimum 75% overall average (excluding Life Orientation).
   • For current students: Minimum 65% in your most recent year of study.
7. No Other Funding: Must not have other existing bursaries or financial assistance.

How to Apply:

• Online Application: Applications must be submitted online through the South Deep Education Trust (SDET) Bursary Application Portal.
• Supporting Documents Needed:
  1. Certified copy of ID
  2. Matric results or certificate
  3. Full academic record (if currently studying)
  4. Proof of tertiary acceptance/provisional acceptance
  5. Proof of residence
  6. Proof of household income (latest payslips, affidavit if unemployed, proof of SASSA grant/pension if applicable)

Additional Information:

• The bursary supports both technical and non-technical fields of study.
• Students who fail any modules will be required to repeat them at their own expense.

Good luck with your application!