Vhembe District

About Vhembe District Municipality

Vhembe District Municipality is a district municipality in the far north of Limpopo Province. It covers four local municipalities: Thulamela, Musina, Makhado and Collins Chabane. Its administrative offices are in the Old Parliament complex on Tusk Venda Street in Thohoyandou. Much of the district is rural, and many households depend on grants and small-scale farming.

The municipality provides services such as water and sanitation, planning and disaster management. To do that well, it needs skilled people who understand local conditions. This is one reason it invests in education. A district municipality also sits between the province and the local municipalities, and it supports them with planning and bulk services, which is why its bursary fields include town planning and water management.

How Vhembe supports students

The district runs the Executive Mayor's Bursary Fund for disadvantaged residents who study or plan to study at a tertiary institution. Only people who live in the district may apply. The fund is run through the Executive Mayor's Office, and it exists to widen access for students who might otherwise be shut out by cost.

Earlier descriptions of the fund say support comes in one of two forms. A sponsorship tops up a student's other funding, covering tuition, prescribed books and course materials. A full scholarship goes further, adding meals and residence or transport costs.

The targeted fields match the district's own needs. They include administration and management, engineering, business and financial studies, environmental and disaster management, water and waste management, information technology, media studies, tourism, agriculture, youth development, and regional and town planning. Public notices speak of diploma and degree study.

What to know before applying

Application forms are usually available from the Musina, Makhado, Thulamela and Collins Chabane local municipalities. You can also download one from the district's website or phone the municipality during office hours. The 2024 round closed on 25 January 2024, so expect a call for applications early in the year, but watch for the current notice.

The fund looks like a need-based bursary rather than an employer-linked one. Public information does not describe a service contract that ties recipients to municipal employment. Even so, terms can change from year to year, so confirm them with the Executive Mayor's Office.

Gather certified copies of your ID, your results and proof of residence early. For example, an application that arrives with missing documents may be set aside. Finally, apply for other bursaries as well, because municipal funds are limited and competition is strong.