Kimberley Ekapa Mining

About Kimberley Ekapa Mining

Ekapa Mining is the company behind large-scale diamond recovery from the old Kimberley mine dumps. These tailings were left by more than a century of mining at the Kimberley Mine, known as the Big Hole, as well as the De Beers Mine and the Dutoitspan, Bultfontein and Wesselton pipes. The company's roots go back to Super Stone Mining, which won a contract with De Beers in 1990 to treat this material.

In January 2016, Ekapa Minerals took over the Kimberley Mines from De Beers Consolidated Mines. Ekapa Mining held 50.1% of that company and Petra Diamonds held 49.9%. The two partners then ran the Kimberley Ekapa Mining joint venture, known as KEM. It combined the Kimberley Underground mine with a high-volume Central Treatment Plant for tailings, working a resource of about 140 million tonnes. Petra later sold its stake to Ekapa Mining in 2018 for about R300 million.

How Ekapa supports students

Diamonds have driven Kimberley's economy since the 1870s, and few other large employers operate in the town. A mine that reworks old dumps and runs underground workings needs skilled people in mining engineering, geology, metallurgy and mineral processing. Bursary funding was one way the company tried to build that local skills base.

Published bursary adverts named electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, mining engineering and metallurgy. They were aimed at students living in the Frances Baard district. The joint venture also offered school scholarships to selected learners in Grades 10 to 12, covering part of school fees, textbooks, uniforms and stationery. Applicants for those places needed an average of 70% with at least 60% in mathematics and science, and a recommendation from their principal.

What to know before applying

Take care with this provider. Press reports in early 2026 said Ekapa Mining had applied for liquidation. Reports linked this to a fatal underground accident, a sharp fall in rough diamond prices and the closure of the mine, with more than a thousand workers affected. As a result, bursary rounds may be paused or may no longer exist, and you should not count on one.

The company's published material did not set out any work-back or minimum service period. Terms could differ from one round to another. Before you apply anywhere, confirm that the offer is still open and read any agreement carefully. Always verify the status of a provider before you spend time on an application.

In the meantime, look at other bursaries for mining, geology and engineering students. Funders such as large mining houses and provincial departments often support these fields, and early applications improve your chances.