Department of Land Reform and Rural Development

About the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development

The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development (DLRRD) is a national government department in South Africa. Its work centres on fair access to land, secure land tenure and spatial justice. It also drives rural development, so that people outside the big cities can share in economic growth.

The department became a stand-alone body after the 2024 national restructuring. Before that, land reform sat inside a combined department with agriculture. Today the two areas have separate ministries, and the DLRRD can focus fully on land administration, restitution, redistribution and rural planning.

How the DLRRD supports students

The department runs a bursary programme to build its own pipeline of skilled people. The focus is on fields that land administration cannot do without. These include geomatics, land surveying, geo-informatics, geographic information systems and town and regional planning. Surveyors map and record who owns which land. Planners decide how land is used. Without enough of them, land reform stalls. Funding usually covers the main costs of study. According to published advertisements, this includes tuition, accommodation, books, meals and a living allowance. However, the exact package can change from year to year. As a result, you should read the current advert carefully before you apply.

The programme is aimed at South African students, with a particular focus on young people from previously disadvantaged and rural communities. It has supported both undergraduate diplomas and degrees and some approved postgraduate studies in these fields.

What to know before applying

First, check that your course matches the fields on the list. A general science or commerce degree will not qualify. The qualification should fall within surveying, geomatics, geographic information or planning. Second, expect a closing date that falls within the year before you study. Dates differ every cycle, so confirm the current one on the official website at dlrrd.gov.za. Applications are normally submitted with documents such as a certified ID copy, your latest results and proof of registration or acceptance.

Third, find out about any service obligation. Government bursaries often ask recipients to work for the department for a period after graduating. The details of any such condition are not confirmed here, so read the bursary agreement closely before you sign it. Funding for a qualified surveyor or planner can lead to a stable public-service career, and the department is a natural first employer for its own graduates. Finally, apply early and keep copies of everything you submit. Late or incomplete applications are rarely considered in government programmes. If you do not succeed, other funders in the property and planning sector may offer support, so keep searching.