SANP Bursary Programme

One of the strategic directions of SANParks is growing community support, providing access, benefit-sharing and benefiting local communities, thus the call for applications for the bursary opportunity. This bursary scheme is intended to benefit children residing in communities neighbouring or adjacent to of the National Parks and will be implemented by the SANParks.

Bursary Application
The Field of study applied for but not limited to, includes Degree & National Diploma in the field of:

• Environmental Sciences including Nature Conservation, Environmental Management, Green Energy, Environmental Engineering, sustainable development and Game ranch management
• Tourism including Hospitality Management, Resort Management, Tour Guide, Events and Conference Management.
• Social Sciences including Community Development, Economic Development, Socio-Economic Development and related Development studies

This is a Comprehensive Bursary
Academic merit will be considered during the selection process, as well as, the imperative to increase the participation of women, people living with disability and designated groups.

Requirements

• Recipients of the SANParks bursary Scheme must be South African citizens.
• They must be learners from communities living adjacent to National Parks as defined in their management plans.
• Proof of application and admission to an accredited institution of Higher Education eligibility for funding.
• Must be entering post-matric study in 2025.
• The bursary is open to students who are pursuing a qualification in a TVET college.
• Must be youth, aged 18 – 35.
• For students currently registered at Institutions of Higher Education, they must have a 100% pass rate to be considered (passed all the courses for which you have registered at the university for the study period already completed).

Please Note

• If you have not been contacted by 30 January 2025, consider your application as unsuccessful.

How To Apply

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements should forward their applications accompanied by the required documentation listed below to the following:

Happy Nhlangwini

• Email: 
  
  ha**************@sa******.org
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Telephone: 012 426 5173

Documents Required

Your application must be accompanied by the following documents:

• Motivation letter indicating the reasons for the required bursary as well as the field of study you are applying for;
• A comprehensive updated CV;
• A copy of your certified identity document;
• A copy of your certified latest academic record;
• Acceptance letter from the registered/accredited public institution of Higher Education (University, TVET, College, University of Technology);
• Proof of residential address;
• If receiving a social grant, please attach an affidavit indicating that the income is less than the threshold.

Please note that applications must be for full-time studies towards an academic diploma/degree at an accredited public South African College / University of Technology / University.

More information about SA National Parks:

Profile

As a leading conservation authority, SANParks is a public entity under the jurisdiction of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), where inclusive conservation as opposed to previous policies of exclusion is central to advancing the policies in line with the National Development Framework for Sustainable Development and the National Development Plan.

South Africa’s national parks conserve the country’s rich diversity of flora and fauna through a system of 21national parks, including three world heritage sites and ten marine protected areas (in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act No. 57 of 2003). This represents approximately 70% of state-owned terrestrial protected areas and 22% of state-managed marine protected areas, comprising over four million hectares (ha) on land and almost 370 000 ha at sea. In addition, five parks are integral components of Transfrontier conservation areas with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Lesotho. A key intrinsic value consideration for national parks and marine protected areas as public-good is their promotion of shared natural and cultural heritages as well as their contribution to building national solidarity and pride. Located largely in rural areas, they are catalysts for economic growth which can create employment and transformation in areas that generally lack such opportunities. They also contribute significantly to the preservation of water resources, protect the archaeological and historical record, and safeguard endangered ways of life.

The National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act mandates SANParks to create destinations for nature-based tourism in a manner that is not harmful to the environment. SANParks generates a substantial percentage of its operating budget from its ecotourism business, therefore, the fulfilment of its conservation mandate is heavily reliant on thriving and sustainable tourism operations.

Legislative and Constitutional Mandate

SANParks was initially established in terms of the now repealed National Parks Act, 57 of 1976 and continues to exist in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003, with the mandate to conserve, protect, control and manage national parks and other defined protected areas and their biological diversity (biodiversity). As a public entity, SANParks is also governed by the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999 (as amended by Act 29 of 1999) and is listed as a Schedule 3 Part A: 25 public entities.

SANParks delivers a diverse and complex public good mandate* that includes management of biodiversity and cultural heritage, the sustainable use of biological resources, socio-economic development, protection of ecological infrastructure, access to nature, science, educational and cultural experiences and reconnecting and inspiring people.

Constitutional mandate Section 24(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996 underpins the SANParks mandate, which states that:

Everyone has the right

• To an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and
• To have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures that:
  • prevent pollution and ecological degradation.
  • promote conservation; and
  • secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources, while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

Legislative and policy mandate

SANParks was initially established in terms of the now repealed National Parks Act, 57 of 1976 and continues to exist in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003; with the mandate to conserve, protect, control and manage national parks and other defined protected areas and their biological diversity (Biodiversity).

As a public entity, SANParks is also governed by the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999 (as amended by Act 29 of 1999), and it is listed as a Schedule 3 Part A: 25 public entity. In accordance with revised Treasury Regulations Section 5 and 30, issued in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), to provide the necessary legal basis for the implementation of the Framework for Managing Programme Performance Information, South African National Parks (SANParks) as a public entity listed in the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999; Schedule 3 Part A: 25 is expected to submit a five-year Strategic Plan, ideally subsequent to every national election cycle, linked to the identified outcomes of the Presidency, for approval by the Ministry of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment as an executive authority.

Acts & Regulations

• Protected Areas Act
• Manual: Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000

Our Mission and Vision

Mission

Develop, protect, expand, manage and promote a system of sustainable national parks that represents natural and cultural heritage assets, through innovation, excellence, responsible tourism and just socio-economic benefit for current and future generations.

Vision

A world-class system of sustainable national parks reconnecting and inspiring society.