Marula Platinum Mine is an Implats operation about 40 kilometres from Burgersfort in the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality, Greater Sekhukhune District, Limpopo. Marula offers bursaries to external students as part of the commitments in its Social and Labour Plan, the five-year skills and community plan that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy approved for 2023 to 2027.
On 1 October 2026 neither Marula nor Implats had published an advert for a Marula bursary round for the 2027 academic year. The details below come from Marula’s approved plan, not from a current advert, so check the selection rules again when a call appears.
How Marula’s external bursary scheme works
Marula calls its bursary scheme an open scheme with one purpose: to build a pool of qualified people the mine can employ. The plan says Marula administers its bursaries itself, every year, and splits them into two streams. Employees get educational assistance to study part-time, while external students, the stream this page covers, apply for bursaries from outside the company.
Marula plans a small number of new external bursaries each year, grouped under mining, engineering and metallurgy, plus a group of other disciplines. Expect strong competition for a handful of places rather than a mass intake.
Selection: marks, equity and the C-symbol rule
Marula’s plan sets out how it chooses external bursars:
- Academic achievement is the main test.
- Marula weighs its employment equity targets and the skills its future business plan needs.
- The mine aims for 80% of bursars to be historically disadvantaged persons, depending on suitable candidates.
- Marula considers only candidates with at least a C symbol in Mathematics, Science and English. The plan still uses old Higher Grade wording, so confirm how Marula converts this to NSC percentages before you apply.
Marula also wants more women in mining occupations, and its plan commits the mine to creating bursary opportunities for women and offering them vacation work. Young women from the host communities in particular should watch for the next call.
Vacation work and a job after graduation
Marula treats its bursars as future employees. Bursary students get work experience at the mine, and the plan lists appointing bursary holders once they finish their studies as one of its talent strategies. Read any bursary contract carefully for the work-back period before you sign.
Where to look for the next Marula call
Implats posts its bursary information on the Implats young talent page, and Marula’s plans are published on the Implats ESG documents page. You can also phone Marula Platinum Mine on 013 214 6000, the number in its Social and Labour Plan, and ask whether a bursary round is coming.
Implats runs a separate group bursary with its own deadline; read our page on the Implats bursary for that scheme. Limpopo learners heading for mining careers can also consider the MQA bursary and the African Rainbow Minerals bursary.