South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL)

About SAFCOL

The South African Forestry Company, known as SAFCOL, is a state-owned forestry business. It was established in 1992 under the Management of State Forest Act to manage and control state forests. Today it earns most of its income by selling logs and lumber, and it also runs other services that are not related to timber.

Most of its South African forestry work runs through Komatiland Forests, a wholly owned subsidiary. A 2013/14 briefing to Parliament put that plantation estate at about 187 000 hectares across Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, although we could not find a newer figure. The group has also held a majority stake in a forestry company in Mozambique. In addition, Komatiland Forests has held Forest Stewardship Council certification for more than 25 years.

This work creates demand for many skills. A plantation business needs foresters and plant scientists, but it also needs engineers, sawmill specialists, safety officers, finance staff and human resources practitioners. As a result, past SAFCOL bursary lists have stretched well beyond forestry.

How SAFCOL supports students

SAFCOL has funded university and college students through a bursary scheme for many years. Past adverts covered registration, tuition, textbooks, accommodation, meals and a semester stipend. They also gave preference to previously disadvantaged students, women, people with disabilities and young people who live near SAFCOL plantations.

The company also offers other routes into the sector. Its careers page refers to learnerships and apprenticeships, and it has advertised technical training such as mechanised harvesting. These options can suit people who prefer practical training to a full degree. However, the same page currently describes bursaries as support for staff, so external students should check what is available before they plan around this funding.

You can read more on our SAFCOL Bursary page, which sets out the terms of the most recent call we could trace.

What to know before applying

First, confirm that a call is open. We could not find a current bursary advert on the SAFCOL website, and the last call we traced closed in October 2022. The careers page also says direct contact details for its human capital office will follow, so use the general contacts for now.

Next, plan for a work-back period. The 2022 terms required graduates to work for SAFCOL for as long as they received funding. Many plantations sit in rural areas, so ask where you might be placed. You should also read the contract for any repayment terms if you fail or leave your course.

You can reach SAFCOL on +27 12 436 6300 or +27 13 754 2700, or by email at info@safcol.co.za. Never pay anyone for help with an application.