Tronox, a global titanium dioxide producer, mines and processes mineral sands at two South African operations: Namakwa Sands in the Western Cape, whose sites lie in the Saldanha Bay and Matzikama municipalities, and KZN Sands around Empangeni and Mtunzini in KwaZulu-Natal. Each operation advertises its own bursaries, with its own fields, marks and closing date.
No new Tronox bursary posting yet
On 2 October 2026 the Tronox ApplicantStack careers portal listed jobs and an engineering apprenticeship at Namakwa Sands, but no bursary. The latest bursary round we found came from KZN Sands and closed on 8 July 2026. Tronox has not said when either site will next advertise, and past closing dates have moved around (November 2024, April 2025, September 2025, July 2026), so check the portal often.
Namakwa Sands: West Coast engineering and science places
Namakwa Sands’ most recent posting, titled Tronox Bursaries Opportunities – 2026, closed on 26 September 2025. It covered:
- Fields: mechanical, electrical, mining, chemical and process control engineering, environmental science, mine survey, extraction metallurgy, geology and information technology.
- Who could apply: Grade 12 learners or recent matriculants with 65% in Mathematics, Physical Science and English and a university acceptance letter, or first- to fourth-year undergraduates with a 60% average and proof of registration.
- Local preference: applicants from Saldanha Bay and Matzikama municipalities came first.
- Funding: registration and tuition, accommodation and meals, a living allowance, a book allowance and a once-off laptop allowance.
Namakwa Sands asked for a cover letter, CV, certified ID, matric certificate, latest academic results or June report, and the acceptance letter or proof of registration.
KZN Sands: places for traditional council areas
KZN Sands recruits from the communities around its Empangeni and Mtunzini operations. Its 2026 advert, which the University of KwaZulu-Natal reproduced on its UKZN student notices board, offered places to students registered in 2026 for a National Diploma or BSc in Information Technology or a BSc in Geology. Applicants had to email a one-page CV with certified copies of their ID, Grade 12 results, proof of registration or academic record, and proof of residence from a traditional council to recruitment.kznsands@tronox.com by 8 July 2026.
KZN Sands gave priority to applicants from the Kwa Dube, Kwa Nzuza, Kwa Mkhwanazi, Ogagwini, Somopho, Macambini and Madlebe traditional councils and the uMhlathuze, uMlalazi and Mandeni municipalities. The fields change from year to year: the 2025 KZN Sands posting funded mine surveying and mining, mechanical and electrical engineering instead.
Tronox’s selection steps
Tronox offers its bursaries to South African citizens only. The 2025 KZN Sands posting said a pre-screening evaluation forms part of selection, and the 2026 advert wanted certified copies no older than three months, so get fresh certification once a new round appears. Women and people with disabilities were encouraged to apply in 2025.
If you live near Richards Bay, the Richards Bay Minerals bursary from Rio Tinto recruits from a similar set of communities. Mining and metallurgy students on the West Coast can also compare the Kumba Iron Ore bursary, and our engineering bursaries list covers more mining-sector funders.