Mwelase Group of Companies

About the Mwelase Group of Companies

The Mwelase Group of Companies is a 100% black-owned South African company. It was founded in 2010 and describes itself as self-funded and black-controlled. The group works in mining and has four main business areas: mining, processing, logistics and marketing. Its head office is in Illovo, Sandton, in Gauteng.

The group specialises in opencast coal mining services and coal processing. It operates, manages and rehabilitates mining projects, including the Rietvlei Colliery. Related crushing and screening work at the Khanyisa complex falls under its Mwelase Mining entity. Much of its coal supply goes to Eskom and other consumers.

How the Mwelase Group supports students

Its operations are closely tied to the Emalahleni (Witbank) coal-mining region of Mpumalanga. For that reason, the bursary gives preference to residents of the Emalahleni and Steve Tshwete local municipalities. It also gives preference to historically disadvantaged individuals more broadly. The group says it wants to contribute constructively to the communities around its operations, and the bursary is one way it does so.

The most recent round advertised 16 bursaries. Preferred fields mirror the skills a mining and industrial business needs. They include mining engineering, mining survey, geology and metallurgy. They also include safety and environmental management, financial management and accounting, business administration, information technology, human resources, operations management, and electrical or mechanical engineering.

The award is described as covering tuition fees, prescribed textbooks, meals and accommodation, plus compulsory academic excursions or seminars where they apply. The published advert does not mention a work-back contract, so ask about this if you are shortlisted.

What to know before applying

Because the group gives preference to local students, applicants from Emalahleni and Steve Tshwete should state their residence clearly. In addition, show how your chosen qualification matches the preferred fields. Strong marks and a clear career plan help any application.

Applicants were asked to email their documents to the group's human resources address, with a closing date of 20 February 2026 in the latest round. However, dates and details can change each year, so check the group's website or recent adverts before you apply.

Use the official contact details only. Never pay anyone to apply for a bursary. Genuine bursary programmes do not charge application fees.

The group names integrity, accountability, safety and health, and foresight as its core values. Those values show in the preferred fields. Mining depends on safety, environmental and financial skills as much as on engineering. Students who want a mining career should know that surveyors, geologists and metallurgists remain in demand. A bursary from a mining company can also give you early insight into how the industry works.