Nampak Tissue

About Nampak

Nampak is one of the best-known packaging companies in Africa. It was formed through a series of acquisitions in 1968 and listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1969. Today the head office is in Bryanston, Johannesburg. The group makes packaging for food, beverage and consumer goods customers.

Nampak runs factories in South Africa and in other African countries. Its metals business makes beverage packaging, and a diversified division serves other customers. In such plants, graduates typically find roles in production, quality control, maintenance and process improvement, as well as finance and logistics. Exact openings depend on the year.

The business has changed shape over the years. Nampak's own history page records the sale of several divisions in 2015, and tissue is named among them. Glass and its European plastics operations were sold later. As a result, the group now concentrates on beverage and diversified packaging, and its latest results show revenue of R5.6 billion for the six months to March 2026.

The Nampak Tissue bursary

The bursary linked to Nampak Tissue was aimed at students of Pulp and Paper Technology. This National Diploma is a specialised branch of chemical engineering, taught at the Durban University of Technology. Published adverts described the award as covering tuition, prescribed textbooks, residence, meals and a monthly allowance.

Pulp and paper technology deals with how wood fibre and recycled material become paper products, from raw material through to finished rolls. Students study chemistry, process engineering and quality control. Therefore, this field suits learners who enjoy science and want hands-on work in a factory.

Students were expected to do vacation work at a Nampak tissue-making mill during holidays. In their third year, they completed in-service training. Graduates also had to accept that mill work can involve shifts in a production setting. Previously disadvantaged applicants were given priority.

What to know before applying

Older adverts asked for South African citizenship, a matric certificate and strong marks in Mathematics and Physical Science. Applications needed certified copies of the ID, matric certificate and academic records, plus a CV and a motivation letter. The closing date in those adverts was in mid-November.

However, these details are dated. Because the tissue business was sold, you should not assume that this bursary is still open. The group's website lists bursaries, learnerships and graduate programmes under its careers section. Therefore, visit the Nampak careers pages or contact the company before you prepare an application. Meanwhile, keep your marks strong in maths and science, because most manufacturing and engineering funders look closely at those subjects.

Whatever the status of this bursary, other manufacturers and paper industry employers also fund students. Compare your options on this site, and apply early to as many suitable funders as the rules allow.