Date Posted: July 29, 2024
Category: Learnership/Internship

---

Call for 2025 Intake:
The South African National Parks (SANParks) is inviting aspiring youth entering their first year of undergraduate studies in the 2025 academic year to apply for our external bursary programme.

About SANParks

South African National Parks (SANParks) was established under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No 57 of 2003). SANParks’ primary mandate is to oversee the conservation of South Africa’s biodiversity, landscapes, and associated heritage assets through a system of national parks. SANParks also ensures that South Africans participate in biodiversity initiatives and that all operations benefit the educational and socioeconomic growth of neighboring communities.

One of SANParks’ strategic goals is to grow community support, provide access, share benefits, and involve local communities. This bursary scheme is specifically designed to benefit children from communities neighboring or adjacent to national parks.

Bursary Application

The bursary is open to students pursuing degrees or national diplomas in the following fields, among others:

• Environmental Sciences: Including Nature Conservation, Environmental Management, Green Energy, Environmental Engineering, Sustainable Development, and Game Ranch Management.
• Tourism: Including Hospitality Management, Resort Management, Tour Guiding, Events and Conference Management.
• Social Sciences: Including Community Development, Economic Development, Socio-Economic Development, and related Development Studies.

This is a comprehensive bursary, and the selection process will consider academic merit as well as the imperative to increase the participation of women, people living with disabilities, and designated groups.

Requirements

• Applicants 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 is required.
• Applicants must be entering post-matric studies in 2025.
• The bursary is open to students pursuing qualifications at a TVET college.
• Applicants must be youth aged 18 – 35.
• For students currently registered at institutions of higher education, a 100% pass rate (passed all courses registered for) is required to be considered.

Application Process

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

Contact:
Happy Nhlangwini
Email: happy.nhlangwini@sanparks.org
Telephone: 012 426 5173

Documents Required:

1. A motivation letter indicating the reasons for the bursary request and the field of study applied for.
2. A comprehensive updated CV.
3. A certified copy of your identity document.
4. A certified copy of your latest academic record.
5. An acceptance letter from a registered/accredited public institution of Higher Education (University, TVET, College, University of Technology).
6. Proof of residential address.
7. If receiving a social grant, please attach an affidavit indicating that the income is below the required threshold.

Please Note:
Applications must be for full-time studies towards an academic diploma/degree at an accredited public South African College/University of Technology/University. If you have not been contacted by 30 January 2025, please consider your application unsuccessful.

About South African National Parks

Profile:
SANParks is a leading conservation authority and a public entity under the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE). SANParks plays a crucial role in managing South Africa’s natural and cultural heritage assets, promoting inclusive conservation, and contributing to the National Development Plan.

South Africa’s national parks conserve the country’s rich diversity of flora and fauna through a system of 21 national parks, including three world heritage sites and ten marine protected areas. These parks cover over four million hectares of land and nearly 370,000 hectares at sea. SANParks is integral to economic growth in rural areas, job creation, and transformation. The organization also contributes significantly to preserving water resources, protecting archaeological and historical records, and safeguarding endangered ways of life.

Legislative and Constitutional Mandate:
SANParks was initially established under the National Parks Act, 57 of 1976, and continues to exist under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003. SANParks is responsible for conserving, protecting, controlling, and managing national parks and other defined protected areas. As a public entity, SANParks is governed by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and must submit a five-year Strategic Plan linked to the outcomes identified by the Presidency.

Mission and Vision

Mission:
To develop, protect, expand, manage, and promote a system of sustainable national parks that represent natural and cultural heritage assets through innovation, excellence, responsible tourism, and just socio-economic benefits for current and future generations.

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

---

All the best with your applications!