Newcastle Municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal runs the Mayor’s Bursary Scheme for students who live in its area and want to study at a government-recognised university or college anywhere in South Africa. The municipality aims the money at needy students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds and accepts any field of study, with a preference for scarce skills.
Newcastle has not advertised a round since 2023
The Mayor’s Bursary page on Newcastle Municipality’s website still carries the rules below, but the municipality’s menu labels the scheme “2023”, and the only dated notice on the site is a banner for the round that closed on 27 January 2023. When we checked on 2 October 2026 there was no advert for 2026 or 2027. Phone the municipality on 034 328 7600 before you assume a round is open.
Strictly for students starting first year
- You live permanently within the Newcastle Municipality area.
- You passed Grade 12 with a pass that admits you to a university degree.
- You are about to start first year; Newcastle does not fund senior students.
- An accredited higher education institution has formally accepted you.
- You are aged 14 to 35, the youth range the municipality takes from the National Youth Commission Act 19 of 1996.
The NSFAS catch
Newcastle Municipality will not consider anyone who has applied to NSFAS, or anyone who owes fees to a tertiary institution. That forces a real choice. NSFAS covers far more students, and the municipality decides the size of each Mayor’s bursary through its own selection process, based on your need and what the family can afford. Weigh this carefully before you skip an NSFAS application in favour of a scheme that may not reopen.
Seven attachments, or automatic disqualification
- Your Grade 12 certificate or statement of results
- Certified copies of your South African ID and your parent’s or guardian’s ID
- Proof of residence from your ward councillor
- Your parent’s or guardian’s proof of income
- Your acceptance letter from the institution
- A full motivational letter, written in section 4 of the form
- A fee quotation from the institution you have chosen
Newcastle Municipality says it may check whether a provisional acceptance letter is genuine, and a missing document disqualifies the application outright.
Hand delivery at the Town Hall only
Newcastle Municipality hands out forms at the reception and security desk at the Town Hall entrance and lists its website as a second source. The download button on the bursary page did not work when we checked, so collect a printed form. The municipality refuses emailed and faxed applications and ignores anything that arrives after the closing date.
The page names two officials for applications and questions, available 07:30 to 16:00, Monday to Friday: Zamokuhle Nyawo, Senior Community Liaison Officer (034 328 7762), and Mzobusayo Gabela, Community Liaison Officer (034 328 7777).
Other KwaZulu-Natal funding to try
Since the Newcastle scheme has been quiet for years, also look at the KZN provincial government bursaries, which several departments offer, and the Dube TradePort bursary for KwaZulu-Natal students. Senior students, who Newcastle excludes, can check the province’s departmental schemes first.