Gibela, a joint South African and French railway rolling stock manufacturer, is at the forefront of modernizing South Africa’s railway infrastructure.
Established as a partnership between Ubumbano Rail, Alstom, and New Africa Rail, the company has been instrumental in revolutionizing commuter rail services.
With Alstom holding a 61% stake, Ubumbano Rail 30%, and New Africa Rail 9%, Gibela operates as a fully black-empowered enterprise.
Tasked by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) in 2013 to replace the aging metro fleet, Gibela committed to delivering 600 state-of-the-art commuter passenger trains over a decade.
Aligned with its mission of socio-economic development, Gibela offers a bursary programme to support students in technical and engineering fields.
This initiative nurtures the next generation of professionals, enabling them to contribute to South Africa’s industrial and technological growth.
Gibela Bursary Programme
The Gibela Bursary Programme for the 2024 academic year invites applications from students pursuing studies at Universities, Universities of Technology, and TVET Colleges.
Bursaries are awarded in the following fields:
TVET College:
- Boiler-makers
- Control and instrumentation technicians
- Electricians
- Fitters and Turners
- Mechanics
- Millwrights
- Pattern-makers
- Plumbers
- Vehicle-builders
- Welders
University and University of Technology:
- Accounting
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Information Technology
- Logistics Management
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Supply Chain Management
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Gibela Bursary, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a South African citizen with a valid bar-coded ID.
- Be enrolled or planning to enroll at a South African University, University of Technology, or TVET College.
- Demonstrate financial need and potential for academic success.
For University Applicants:
- Achieve a minimum of Level 6 in Mathematics, Physical Science, and Accounting.
- Achieve a minimum of Level 5 in English.
- Provide written proof of acceptance from a South African University or University of Technology.
The bursary is granted for one academic year and is renewable annually based on the recipient’s academic performance.
How to Apply for the Gibela Bursary
All applications must be submitted onine to the provided email address.
Applicants must submit the following certified documents:
- South African ID document.
- Full academic record.
- Short Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Proof of parents or guardians’ income (latest payslips, affidavit if unemployed, or proof of grants/pensions).
- Written proof of acceptance from a TVET institution, University, or University of Technology (on official letterhead).
Applications can be submitted via:
- Email: gibelabursaries@communityrail.co.za
- Use the subject line: “Gibela Bursary 2024 TVET” or “Gibela Bursary 2024 University.”
- Fax: 086 246 2666
When asked how you heard about the bursary, input: www.bursariesmzansi.co.za.
Deadline
The application deadline for the 2025 bursary application is not yet disclosed.
Please check back later for any updates in the future.
Contact Information
For any queries regarding the Gibela Bursary Programme, applicants can reach out via the following:
- Email: gibelabursaries@communityrail.co.za
- Contact Person: Thenjiwe-Molly Mahlangu (Human Resources)
- Telephone: 010 600 0651
- Email: recruitment1@gibela-rail.com