The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, located within the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, was established in 2000 after municipal areas were re-organised. Before it became a metropolitan municipality, it was part of the Amathole District Municipality, before the separation occurred in 2011.

The municipality includes the towns of Bhisho, King William’s Town and East London and the townships of Zwelitsha and Mdantsane.
 

ABOUT THE BURSARY PROGRAMME – FIELDS COVERED

The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Mayoral Bursary will be awarding within the following fields of study:

• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Quantity Surveying
• Land Surveying
• Town and Regional Planning
• Architecture
• Building
• Facilities Management
• Accounting
• Economics
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology

MORE ABOUT THE BURSARY PROGRAMME – COVERAGE VALUE & RENEWAL

The following expenses will be covered by the bursary award: registration fees, tuition fees, accommodation, study materials and prescribed books.

Students will be selected based on academic merit and the bursary is renewable each year based on satisfactory academic performance.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted to attend a personal interview. If you have not received any feedback by 29 January 2025/2026 at the latest, please regard your application as unsuccessful.
 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

• South African citizen
• Between 14 and 35 years old
• Permanently reside within the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality area
• From a previously disadvantaged background
• Willing to work within the Buffalo City once graduated
• Completed Matric OR an NCV Level 4 certificate with Mathematics
• Achieved a minimum “C” symbol/ 60-69% for Mathematics in Matric
• Achieved a minimum “C” symbol/ 60-69% for Accounting in Matric
• Achieved a minimum “C” symbol/ 60-69% for Physical Science in Matric
• Achieved a minimum “D” symbol/ 50-59% for English in Matric
• Studying or intend on studying full time within one of the aforementioned fields of study
• Studying or intend on studying at a tertiary institute within South African (preferably within the Eastern Cape)
• Preference will be given to students who are studying or have been accepted to study at a TVET College
• Students with disabilities are encouraged to apply

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE BURSARY

Download and complete the Buffalo City Bursary Application Form (.pdf)

Alternatively, application forms can be collected from any of the following Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Youth Advisory Centers:
– Duncan Village Art Centre
– East London Trust Centre Building (7th Floor Office 706)
– King William’s Town Civic Centre
– Mdantsane Library Complex
 

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your completed application form (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application be disregarded):

• ID document (certified copy)
• Latest academic record (certified copy)
• Proof of residence in Buffalo City Municipality/ letter from the ward councillor confirming residency
• Proof of household income

Applications must be submitted in one of the following ways:
1) Hand delivery:
Buffalo City Municipality
Human Resources Department
Buxton House
Buxton Street

2) Post:
Buffalo City Municipality
Human Resources Department
P.O. Box 134
East London
5200
 

CLOSING DATE

30 October 2025/2026.
(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)
 

CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER

For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality directly:
Contact Person: Nandi Jaji
Tel: 043 705 1013