At Bakwena, we are committed to supporting education and improving the lives of people living in communities along the N1N4 route. Through our bursary and learnership programmes, we aim to provide opportunities that contribute to personal development and community upliftment. In 2024, Bakwena supported 10 external bursaries, 11 external learnerships and seven internal bursaries.
Among the recent success stories are Catherine Morena and Boitumelo Joy Ngobeni, who both graduated in 2025 thanks to Bakwena’s bursary programme.
Catherine Morena, a dedicated Bakwena employee since the project’s inception, has steadily advanced her career from Communications Clerk to Control Room Manager at Mantsole Weighbridge and eventually becoming Commercial Support Officer at Bakwena Head Office. Having worked in the toll operations, weighbridge and concession’s head office makes her unique among her colleagues. With Bakwena’s sponsorship, she recently completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
“This academic sponsorship marked a significant milestone in my personal and professional development. I remain deeply grateful for the confidence Bakwena placed in my potential and for playing an important role in shaping my academic and professional journey,” says Morena.
Boitumelo Joy Ngobeni, another proud bursary recipient, graduated with two qualifications in Integrated Communication from Tshwane University of Technology. “I am proud to say that I am a product of Bakwena Platinum Bursaries and I will always be grateful for the opportunity provided to me. Bakwena’s investment in my education has not only empowered me but has also inspired me to make a positive impact in my community,” she shares.
Bakwena’s construction learnership programme, which is targeted at unemployed youth along the Bakwena N1N4 route, combines theoretical learning with practical, on-the-job experience at the Bakwena projects, giving community members vital skills and improving employability. Many participants have secured permanent employment, demonstrating the programme’s lasting impact.
Bakwena offers bursaries to both staff and university students (second year and above), as well as learnerships for community members near the N1N4 route. To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a South African citizen
- Be registered at a South African university
- Preferably reside within 6km of the Bakwena N1N4 route
- Have a minimum overall university average of 60%
- Complete an application form and submit all supporting documents.
Supporting documents include a motivation letter, certified copies of first-year varsity results, ID document and proof of residence.
Applications can be downloaded via the Bakwena website and emailed to info@bakwena.co.za with ‘Bursary Application’ in the subject line.
“The youth are the future of South Africa, and we are dedicated to making a meaningful difference by empowering them with the knowledge to help them achieve their goals. We believe that we have a responsibility as a business to have a positive impact on many aspects of the lives of people in the communities surrounding the N1N4 route, bringing positive change, inspiration and hope, creating a brighter future for the next generation,” says Solomon Kganyago, Bakwena’s Chief Operating Officer.
For more information, visit https://www.bakwena.co.za
