Cape Agulhas Municipality

About Cape Agulhas Municipality

Cape Agulhas Municipality is a local municipality in the Overberg district of the Western Cape. It includes the southernmost tip of Africa at L'Agulhas, where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. The municipal offices are in Dirkie Uys Street, Bredasdorp. The area also covers Napier, Struisbaai, Arniston and several smaller settlements.

The local economy depends on agriculture, fishing and tourism. Wheat, canola and sheep farming are important, and visitors come for the coast and the lighthouse. Like other small municipalities, Cape Agulhas has limited money and a small pool of skilled people. To help, it sets aside funds each year to support students from its own communities.

How the municipality supports students

The Cape Agulhas bursary is open to residents of the municipal area who have finished matric and are studying, or about to study, at an accredited tertiary institution. The municipality has linked the bursary to fields that serve the local area. Recent calls listed seventeen fields. They include agriculture, architecture, civil engineering, electromechanical engineering services, environmental management, financial management, human resources, information and communication technology, legal studies, marine biology, public administration, tourism, and town and regional planning. Community development and community safety also appeared.

The amount and cover can differ each year, and the municipality decides according to its budget. Therefore, ask the bursary office what the current award includes. We could not confirm whether any repayment or service condition applies.

What to know before applying

Applicants must be South African citizens who live in the Cape Agulhas area. The municipality also applies an income test. In the most recent call we found, the total household income could not exceed R20,000 per month. As a result, the bursary is aimed at families who genuinely need help.

The application pack is a paper form. You must attach certified copies of your ID and your matric results or certificate. Students already at university must add their latest progress report and proof of registration. You also need a motivational letter, your parents' or guardians' identity and income documents, and municipal proof of residence.

Take care with certification. Certified copies are normally made at a police station or by a commissioner of oaths, and they must be recent. Make sure every page is clear and complete. Moreover, ask a teacher or parent to check the pack before you hand it in, because missing documents are a common reason for rejection.

Applications are delivered by hand or posted to the municipality in Bredasdorp. Faxed applications are not accepted. The 2025 intake closed at midday on 17 January 2025, and late applications were rejected. Expect a similar early-year deadline and gather your documents before December. Check the official municipal website for the current notice.