South African Table Grape Industry (SATI)

About SATI

The South African Table Grape Industry, known as SATI, is the industry body for the country's table grape sector. Its office stands in Paarl in the Western Cape. It describes its mission as fostering a progressive, equitable and sustainable sector, and its tagline points to 130 years in pursuit of excellence.

Its work reaches many parts of the business. SATI handles market access, publishes production guidelines, and shares industry statistics and research through its knowledge hub. It also organises events, including a 2026 table grape conference that it hosted with the South African Society for Enology and Viticulture. In addition, it belongs to Fruit SA alongside other fruit bodies such as Hortgro and the Citrus Growers' Association.

Transformation and training form a section of their own within the organisation. This matters because a sector like this needs far more than growers. It also relies on scientists, technical advisers, exporters and managers along the whole value chain.

How SATI supports students

SATI funds people who want careers in the table grape industry or its value chain. Full-time and part-time students can both apply, as long as they attend a registered South African institution. You and SATI agree on the field of study, so the programme does not rely on a fixed list. See our SATI Table Grape Bursary page for details.

Postgraduate students go through an extra step. They submit a research proposal, and SATI's Research Manager assesses it against the organisation's research needs. Projects with a direct link to the industry receive preference, so choose a topic that growers and exporters would find useful.

What to know before applying

Funding depends on the available budget and on approval by SATI's chief executive. An award may cover some or all of your study fees, accommodation and living costs, but you should not assume full cover. SATI may also decide not to award bursaries in a given year.

Keep your results up, because SATI reviews each bursary annually. Funded students also send in progress reports every quarter, and poor progress can lead to suspension or the end of funding.

Check that you are using the current form. Applications run through SATI's online system, and the page may still show an earlier round until a new one opens. If you need help, email info@satgi.co.za or call 021 863 0366.

SATI says that you should treat your application as unsuccessful if you have not heard from it by mid-January.