Silulumanzi

About Silulumanzi

Silulumanzi is a water and wastewater company in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. It began operating in 1999, after the Nelspruit Transitional Council put its water services out to tender as a public-private partnership. BiWater won that bid, and Silulumanzi was formed to deliver the services.

Today, the company works under a 30-year concession held by its parent, South African Water Works. Brain Gear Investments, a black-owned company from Mbombela, is also a shareholder. Silulumanzi says that its management and shareholders are now fully South African.

The scale of the work is large. According to the company, it supplies about 120 million litres of drinking water a day to roughly 400,000 people. It has grown from about 150 staff to more than 350, and it has received Platinum Blue Drop and Green Drop awards from the Department of Water and Sanitation. Customers can visit offices in Mbombela City, Matsafeni, Matsulu and KaNyamazane.

How Silulumanzi supports students

A water utility depends on engineers, process controllers and technicians, and these skills take years to build. For that reason, Silulumanzi runs an external bursary scheme for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who want careers in the water sector. You can read about the current round on our Silulumanzi Bursary page.

The company also trains people directly. Its in-house training centre holds EWSETA accreditation and offers NQF learnerships in plant process control, water and wastewater reticulation, construction supervision and sanitation project management. In addition, a separate employee bursary scheme funds staff whose studies improve their skills and performance.

What to know before applying

This is a local scheme with a clear sector focus, so check your field first. The company's advert sets the list of qualifying fields each year, and it can change between rounds.

Think about work-back as well. Silulumanzi says that recipients may be expected to work for the company after graduation, if a suitable vacancy exists at that time. So read your contract carefully and ask how long any commitment would last.

Finally, confirm the process before you post anything. Past rounds used a downloadable form rather than an online portal, and the company's page may show an older form while a new round is running. Call 013 752 6839 or email enquiries@silulumanzi.com if the dates or the form look out of date.

Students should also plan their subjects early, because engineering and science fields usually need strong Mathematics and Science results. Visit a customer care office in Mbombela City, Matsafeni, Matsulu or KaNyamazane if you cannot get the form online.