About the Letsatsi Borutho Trust
The Letsatsi Borutho Trust is a community trust in the Northern Cape. It holds shares in the Droogfontein Solar Power plant, a solar facility built under the national Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement programme, known as REIPPP. That programme expects renewable energy projects to benefit the people who live near them. As a result, the trust receives a share of the plant's income and uses it for local development.
Education is one of the clearest ways the trust gives back. The Letsatsi Borutho Trust bursary works more like a community dividend than a corporate gift. Local residents already own a stake in the plant, so the funding returns to the families who live closest to it.
How the trust supports students
The trust funds young people who want to study after school. You can use the bursary at a public or private university, a university of technology or a TVET college. Applicants who finished matric in earlier years may also apply, so a gap year or two does not rule you out.
The funding is not limited to one field. It covers technical and skills training, such as plumbing or bricklaying, as well as national diplomas and degree programmes. Training at NQF level 6 is specifically mentioned. This breadth makes the bursary useful for learners who prefer a trade as much as for those aiming at a degree.
The value of each award is decided individually. Depending on your needs, support may cover tuition, registration and examination fees, residence, meals, and learning materials such as textbooks and stationery. Because amounts differ from student to student, you should not expect a fixed sum. There is also no employment work-back requirement, which means you are free to choose your own career once you qualify.
StudyTrust, an education funding organisation, manages the programme on behalf of the trust. Handling applications through one experienced body keeps the process consistent and fair.
What to know before applying
Eligibility depends first on where you live. You must be a South African citizen and live within a 50-kilometre radius of the Droogfontein Solar Power plant, which is near Kimberley. You must also have been accepted at a recognised public or private institution. Anyone outside that radius is unlikely to qualify, however strong their marks.
Selection weighs your Grade 12 results alongside your financial need. Strong marks help, yet a learner from a low-income home who shows clear commitment also has a real chance. Gather your certified ID, matric results, proof of residence and your acceptance letter before you start.
Applications are submitted through StudyTrust, either by email or by hand delivery at its centre in Kimberley. The application season has been listed as running from 1 June to 31 October. Dates can change from year to year, so confirm the current window and the exact documents on the StudyTrust bursary page before you apply. Apply early, because incomplete applications may not be considered.
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