SAB (South African Breweries)

About SAB

South African Breweries, better known as SAB, is the country's largest brewer. It began in 1895 as the Castle Brewery, which served the miners and prospectors of early Johannesburg. In 1897 it became the first industrial company to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. SAB later grew into a multinational and, in 2016, became part of Anheuser-Busch InBev after the takeover of SABMiller.

The company's head office is at Park Lane in Sandton. It runs breweries around the country, including sites in Alrode, Rosslyn, Prospecton, Newlands, Ibhayi and Polokwane. Its portfolio of local and global brands includes Castle Lager, Carling Black Label, Hansa Pilsener and Corona. Brewing relies on science, engineering, logistics and marketing, so SAB hires across many disciplines.

How SAB supports students and graduates

SAB has a reputation for graduate development. Its structured graduate programme, usually described as lasting between 18 months and two years, gives new graduates rotations and technical exposure. Third-party listings describe opportunities in engineering, information technology, supply chain and marketing. The company has also funded chartered accountancy training in the past.

Beyond its own hiring, SAB invests in local business. It supports barley farmers, such as the Taung growers who received a R16 million mechanisation boost. It also runs trader programmes in the tavern sector. These projects show that the company thinks about skills and livelihoods well beyond its own factories.

Bursary information is less clear. The company's own website mainly points visitors to a careers portal, and it does not currently advertise an open bursary there. Older listings may describe schemes that no longer run, particularly on bursary aggregator sites. Therefore, treat any third-party listing as a lead to verify, not a promise of funding.

What to know before applying

Start with the SAB careers portal, which lists current vacancies, graduate roles and any student programmes. Create a profile, upload an up-to-date CV and set job alerts so you see new openings quickly. The company has recently been recognised as a Top Employer in South Africa, and demand for places can be high.

Most programmes at a company of this kind ask for strong academic results, a recognised qualification and the right to work in South Africa. Engineering and science applicants should keep their Mathematics and Physical Sciences marks high. Commerce candidates should show good results in accounting or finance modules.

Terms such as pay, duration and service obligations vary by programme and by year. As a result, read every offer carefully and ask the recruiter about anything unclear. Apply to several funders in parallel, since no single company can fund every strong candidate.