Many companies view bursaries as a one‑off donation—pay tuition fees and move on. However, the B‑BBEE Codes treat bursaries as a strategic part of the Skills Development element, subject to strict criteria and reporting. Effective bursary management involves designing a bursary policy, aligning it with scarce skills and business needs, recruiting suitable candidates, conducting due diligence, managing contracts, paying tuition and allowances, and tracking academic progress until graduation. It also requires collecting demographic data and documentation to secure Skills Development points and mandatory grants, while ensuring the spend qualifies under the B‑BBEE rules (e.g., paying to recognised institutions and covering fees, books, accommodation and stipends). Okiru’s bursary management service handles the full lifecycle—from sourcing students to audit‑ready reporting—so companies maximise compliance and impact without the administrative burden.

Bursaries help bridge South Africa’s skills gap by funding students—often from disadvantaged backgrounds—to study in-demand qualifications such as engineering, ICT, finance and healthcare. Under the amended B‑BBEE Codes, large entities must spend a portion of their payroll (typically 6 % overall, of which 2.5 % is ring‑fenced for bursaries) on qualifying education programmes for black people. Meeting or exceeding this target unlocks between four and six points on the Skills Development scorecard and can earn bonus points when learners are absorbed into the workplace after graduation. Investing in bursaries also improves your brand reputation, strengthens community relations and builds a future talent pipeline. Okiru structures bursary programmes to maximise both social impact and compliance benefits, ensuring every rand contributes to your B‑BBEE objectives.

Budgeting for bursaries requires considering several components. Direct costs include university tuition, registration fees, textbooks, study materials, accommodation and living allowances. Indirect costs cover programme administration, candidate sourcing, mentorship and reporting. Depending on the institution and course, annual costs per student can range from R80 000 to R120 000 or more. However, the return on this investment is multi‑fold:

• Bursaries count toward the 6 % Skills Development target (with 2.5 % ring‑fenced for bursaries), earning B‑BBEE points and potentially bonus points.

• Employers can reclaim part of their Skills Development Levy through mandatory grants by including bursaries in their WSP/ATR.

• Section 12H tax allowances may apply when bursaries are converted into learnerships or internships.

• Graduates can fill critical roles within your organisation, reducing recruitment costs and improving succession planning.

Okiru helps you structure bursaries to optimise these benefits, tracking every expense and outcome to ensure maximum ROI.

Okiru’s bursary management service starts with a needs analysis to identify the qualifications and skills your organisation requires. We design a bursary policy that aligns with your B‑BBEE, Employment Equity and business objectives. We then handle advertising, screening and selection to ensure you support deserving students who are likely to succeed. Throughout the life of the bursary, our team pays fees and allowances directly to universities and students, monitors academic progress, offers mentorship, and provides psychosocial support. We maintain detailed records of spend and student demographics, capturing all information required for WSP/ATR submissions and B‑BBEE verification. Our digital platform automates updates, tracks deadlines and produces audit‑ready reports. Once students graduate, we assist with work‑back obligations and potential employment opportunities. By outsourcing to Okiru, you remove the administrative burden, reduce risk and ensure that your bursary investments create real, measurable value.