South African Nursery Association

About the South African Nursery Association

The South African Nursery Association, known as SANA, has represented the country's green industry since 1947. It is a non-profit body. Its members include plant nurseries, garden centres, growers, suppliers and landscapers. SANA does not trade plants itself. Instead, it speaks for the sector and links businesses to one another. A career in this field can take several directions. Some graduates grow plants at a production nursery, while others manage a garden centre, design landscapes or supply products to the trade. A horticulture or landscaping qualification prepares you for all of these routes. Because SANA links so many businesses, a bursary holder gets an early view of how the sector works and who is hiring.

Day to day, SANA runs trade fairs in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, publishes the Green Business Magazine and sends out electronic newsletters. It also hosts forums and interest groups, and it holds yearly awards for garden centres, suppliers, retailers and young growers. Its Life is a Garden campaign encourages ordinary South Africans to take up gardening, which in turn builds demand for plants.

How SANA supports students

The industry needs fresh talent. Many experienced nursery owners and growers are getting older, and too few young graduates are entering horticultural science and landscape design. The SANA bursary is one practical answer to that gap. It supports students who study horticulture or landscaping at a recognised South African tertiary institution.

The award pays tuition fees for the current academic year, and SANA sends the money straight to the institution. However, it does not cover registration fees, prescribed books, accommodation, travel, practical training or outstanding fees from earlier years. Recipients also join SANA as free student members. As a result, they receive newsletters, a digital copy of the annual magazine and invitations to the trade fairs, which is a useful way to meet future employers.

What to know before applying

Candidates must have finished matric and be studying towards a horticulture or landscaping qualification. The scheme prefers undergraduates, although postgraduate and BTech students may be considered case by case. Applicants must also have completed every module of their first year with an average of at least 60%. This means first-year students normally cannot apply until the following year.

SANA is an industry association, not a single employer. Therefore, no work-back or fixed employment obligation applies to bursars. The aim is to enlarge the pool of qualified people available to member businesses. Application forms are available from the SANA website, and the association lists a contact person there for questions. Opening and closing dates vary from year to year, so check the official site for the current intake before you plan your application. Prepare early. Keep your first-year academic record and your proof of registration ready, since the 60% requirement is the first thing the association will check. Write down your career goals in the green industry too, because a clear plan makes your application easier to assess.