The Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary Fund (VEBF) is an initiative of Vulamathuba Empumelelo, the social development arm of Communicare. The fund supports students from Communicare rental communities and other disadvantaged Cape Town residents to access tertiary education in scarce and critical skills fields.
At a glance
- Who it’s for: Communicare tenants and qualifying Cape Town residents aged 19–50 with financial need and academic potential.
- What it covers: Up to around R45 000 per year towards registration, tuition, prescribed textbooks and exam fees.
- Study level: Undergraduate studies at public universities and TVET colleges.
- Closing date: 12 December 2025.
What the bursary covers
The Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary provides partial financial support for:
- Registration fees at a public university or TVET college.
- Tuition fees (up to the annual bursary cap).
- Prescribed textbooks and academic materials.
- Examination or assessment fees, where applicable.
The bursary does not normally cover electronic devices, stationery, transport, accommodation or historic student debt.
Fields of study
Funding is prioritised for scarce and critical skills as defined by national and provincial priority lists. These may include, for example:
- Engineering and Built Environment fields.
- Information Technology and Computer Science.
- Finance, Accounting and related commerce degrees.
- Education (priority subjects) and Social Work.
- Health-related programmes at undergraduate level.
- Other officially recognised scarce skills programmes.
Who can apply? (Eligibility checklist)
- You are a South African citizen.
- You are aged between 19 and 50 at the time of application.
- You are a Communicare tenant or a qualifying resident of the City of Cape Town metropolitan area from a previously disadvantaged background.
- Your combined household income falls below the bursary’s maximum income threshold.
- You have been accepted, or have applied, to study towards an undergraduate qualification at a public university or TVET college.
- Your chosen field of study is aligned with current scarce and critical skills needs.
- You are willing to commit to the bursary’s community service and work-back requirements.
Community service & work-back requirements
Beneficiaries are usually required to complete a minimum number of community service hours and may be expected to participate in Vulamathuba or Communicare programmes. Read the official guidelines carefully for the exact work-back or volunteering obligations.
Documents you’ll need
- Certified copy of your South African ID.
- Certified copy of your Matric certificate or latest results.
- Proof of application or acceptance at a public university or TVET college.
- Proof of household income (payslips, bank statements or sworn affidavits).
- Proof that you are a Communicare tenant, or other proof of residence in Cape Town.
- Short CV and motivational letter explaining your circumstances and study plans.
- Any other documents listed on the official application form.
How to apply
- Download and read the official Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary Fund application form and guidelines.
- Complete the application form in full – incomplete forms are often not considered.
- Prepare and attach all required supporting documents.
- Submit your application using the method indicated (email, online submission or hand delivery) before 12 December 2025.
After you submit
Only shortlisted candidates are typically contacted. If you are successful, you will receive further instructions about signing a bursary agreement and meeting the participation requirements. If you do not hear back, you should assume your application was not successful this time.