Bakwena

About Bakwena

Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire operates the N1 and N4 toll route, which links communities and industry across northern South Africa. Most motorists know the company through its toll plazas and its 24-hour customer care line. However, its work stretches well beyond collecting tolls, because it also builds and repairs the road.

Its current projects show the scale of that work. These include an N1 rehabilitation between the Proefplaas Interchange and the Pumulani toll plaza, part of a R276 million programme. On the N4, the company is dualling the road between Buffelspoort and the Dr Moroka interchange, and it is also repairing the section between Zeerust and the Botswana border. It partly opened a new dual carriageway between Marikana and Buffelspoort in July 2026.

A road of this length runs through many towns and villages, and the people who live beside it feel its effects every day. This is why the company's community work tends to focus on those living close to the route.

How Bakwena supports students

Bakwena offers a limited number of bursaries each year under the name Bakwena Cares. It aims them at university students in their second year or later, so first-year students must look elsewhere for now. You can read the details on our Bakwena Bursary page.

The award helps with tuition rather than covering all of your costs. Its form says that Bakwena pays tuition fees of up to R35,000 directly to your institution when it receives an account. The bursary lasts for one year, and renewal depends on available funds and your academic progress.

What to know before applying

Where you live can help you. The company prefers applicants who live within 6 kilometres of the N1N4 route, and its form asks which local municipality you live in. You should also show an overall university average of at least 60%.

Apply early, because Bakwena may decline applications once it reaches its target number of bursaries. You also sign a contract if you win an award, and poor progress can end the payments, so read the terms before you accept.

The company's 2027 form gives its closing date as "31 November 2026", which does not exist. So treat 30 November as your last safe day, or email info@bakwena.co.za to confirm.

You can reach the company on 011 519 0400, or visit its office in Irene, Centurion. Include two referees who are not family, because the form requires them. One must come from your current university.