Eskom

Eskom is South Africa's national electricity utility and the biggest electricity producer on the continent, generating around 95% of the country's power and roughly 45% of Africa's total electricity supply. Because it operates power stations, transmission networks, and distribution infrastructure at this scale, Eskom needs a constant supply of engineers across almost every discipline.

Eskom funds bursaries partly to secure this technical talent pipeline and partly because, as a state-owned entity, it carries a broader mandate to invest in South African skills development. The country has faced ongoing engineering skills shortages, and Eskom's bursary programme is one of the ways the utility tries to close that gap for its own workforce and the wider industry.

Most Eskom bursars can expect a genuine job at the end of their studies. The company typically offers guaranteed employment after graduation, generally structured as a year-for-year work-back obligation matched to the funding received, though Eskom waives this requirement for some bursars from financially disadvantaged backgrounds or with disabilities. Failing to complete your qualification within the agreed timeframe can also create a repayment obligation.

Because Eskom runs power stations and infrastructure across the country, bursars should expect the possibility of being placed wherever the company's operational needs are greatest, not only in major cities.