What Sibona Ilanga Trust Bursary Is Actually Offering
Sibona Ilanga — meaning "we see the sun" — is a community trust that holds shares in the De Aar Solar Power Plant on behalf of communities within 50 kilometres of the facility in the Northern Cape. This bursary is how the sun's energy translates into educational opportunity for the people closest to the plant.
The programme covers qualifications from NQF Level 6 technical and vocational training — including trades like plumbing and bricklaying — through to national diplomas and undergraduate degrees. Public and private TVET colleges, universities of technology, and academic universities all qualify. There are no field restrictions — any recognised qualification at the appropriate level is eligible.
Students who completed their NSC or NTC in previous years are explicitly welcome, making this accessible to out-of-school youth who are ready to resume their education after a gap.
Three submission routes are available: online through Study Trust, by email, or in person at the Ethembeni Community Centre at 3 Friedlander Street, De Aar — one of the most physically accessible application processes for community members with limited internet connectivity.
Is This Right for You?
Apply if you are:
A South African citizen residing within 50 kilometres of the De Aar Solar Power Plant
Accepted at or applying to any recognised public or private South African tertiary institution, including TVET colleges
Pursuing a qualification at NQF Level 6 or higher — from technical trades through to degree programmes
A previous NSC or NTC graduate returning to studies after completing matric in prior years
Able to demonstrate financial need — lack of sufficient financial resources is a core selection criterion
Submitting a fully completed application with all required supporting documents
Do not waste your time applying if:
You do not reside within 50 kilometres of the De Aar Solar Power Plant — this is non-negotiable
You are not a South African citizen
Your qualification level is below NQF Level 6
You cannot demonstrate financial need
Your application is incomplete in any respect
Why This Bursary Is Worth Pursuing
De Aar sits at the heart of South Africa's Karoo — a vast, arid region that is simultaneously one of the country's most energy-rich (in terms of solar and wind resources) and most economically marginalised. The Northern Cape as a whole has some of the lowest tertiary education participation rates in South Africa, and De Aar specifically is a community where the barriers between completing matric and entering tertiary education are among the highest in the country.
The Sibona Ilanga Trust exists precisely because the De Aar Solar Power Plant recognised that operating in this community creates an obligation – and an opportunity – to transform educational access for the people living there. The bursary is one of the most concrete expressions of that obligation.
The breadth of eligible qualifications — from bricklaying to bachelor's degrees — reflects an understanding of what the De Aar community actually needs. Not every student from this region wants or is positioned to attend a university. A plumber, electrician, or bricklayer who completes a TVET qualification and enters the local economy is just as valuable an outcome as a university graduate. Sibona Ilanga funds both with equal commitment.
The in-person submission option at the Ethembeni Community Centre is a detail that reflects genuine community awareness. For a trust whose name means "we see the sun," this is a programme that genuinely sees its community.
The window opens on 1 June. Confirm your 50km radius eligibility today.
How to Apply
Option 1 — Online:
Click on the 'Apply' button.
Complete the online application between 1 June and 30 September 2026
Option 2 — Email:
Complete your application form fully with all certified supporting documents
Submit to b.ndlovu@studytrust.org.za before 30 September 2026
Option 3 — In Person:
Complete your application form fully with all certified supporting documents
Submit at the Ethembeni Community Centre, 3 Friedlander Street, De Aar before 30 September 2026
Required documents: certified South African ID, Grade 12/NTC results or latest academic record, proof of tertiary institution acceptance, proof of residence within 50km of the De Aar Solar Power Plant, and proof of financial need.