Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA)

About CCBSA

Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) is the South African arm of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, the largest Coca-Cola bottler on the continent. The company makes, sells and distributes Coca-Cola products from plants and depots across the country. As a large employer with sites in many townships and towns, it also invests in the communities around those sites.

It helps to know what kind of company this is. Coca-Cola Beverages Africa is a bottler, not the owner of the brand. It produces and distributes drinks under licence from The Coca-Cola Company, and it works in several African countries. Because the business relies on local people as workers, retailers and customers, community investment is part of how it earns trust.

Education is a major part of that investment. CCBSA backs school programmes, such as Ligbron, an e-learning initiative that supports maths and science teaching. It also funds students through the Study Buddy Fund, which sits at the centre of its bursary work.

How the Study Buddy Fund supports students

The Study Buddy Fund is a bursary and student-support programme for young people who cannot afford university. Past calls described a host community bursary. That award paid for full tuition, accommodation and textbooks. In addition, it offered holistic support so that students could cope with campus life, not just pay fees.

The fund gives priority to communities near CCBSA operations. Recent calls named areas such as Mdantsane, Motherwell, Inanda, KwaMashu, Tembisa, Mangaung and Seshego. Living in one of these host communities counts in your favour. However, earlier information describes it as an advantage rather than a strict rule, so check the current call.

What to know before applying

Earlier application rounds targeted Grade 12 learners who passed with admission to a bachelor's degree and had an offer from a South African university. The fund also stated a preference for Black South African applicants under the B-BBEE codes. Employees of CCBSA and its affiliates, and their relatives, could not apply. Criteria can change every year, so treat these points as a guide only.

Applications run online. You first register on the Study Buddy Fund portal and then log in to complete the form. Expect to upload your ID, matric results, a motivation letter, proof of university acceptance and proof of where you live. Incomplete forms are a common reason for rejection, so prepare every document before you start.

The fund has usually reopened in the weeks around December and January, with closing dates in the first months of the year. For example, the 2023 intake closed on 31 January 2023. Dates for later years may differ, and no published source confirms any work-back obligation. Visit the official CCBSA site for the latest call before you apply.