By Gosego Phutieagae
Twenty-five engineering students from North-West University (NWU) were among the 200 national bursary recipients celebrated at the 2026 Eskom Bursary Awards Ceremony in February.
Eskom has consistently invested in skills development through its bursary programme, awarding over 11 000 bursaries in the past decade.
The university and Eskom promoted the bursaries to all Grade 12 learners who applied to study engineering at the NWU. Following a strict interview process, these 25 students demonstrated the qualities required to receive the award.
Generating skills for decades to come
Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity and Energy, also attended the event, and highlighted the importance of partnerships between government, industry and educational institutions in building the technical capacity to address current energy challenges.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mteto Nyati, chairperson of the Eskom Board said: “By investing in young South Africans today, we are strengthening the skills base that will underpin economic growth, energy security and inclusive development for decades to come. This is how we build a resilient and sustainable future for our country.”
“South Africa’s energy transition requires skilled, innovative and committed professionals. Through this bursary programme, Eskom is deliberately building the pipeline of engineers, scientists, and specialists who will lead the transformation of our energy system and ensure its reliability for generations to come,” said Dan Marokane, Eskom’s group chief executive.
The partnership between NWU and Eskom directly supports this goal by providing students with full bursaries and vacation training opportunities during recess periods. The university’s bursary office complements this by offering guidance throughout their studies.
The NWU’s Faculty of Engineering welcomes Eskom’s continued investment in developing the critical skills required for South Africa’s energy future. The faculty focuses on educating engineers who are equipped and motivated to solve real-world challenges, while advancing applied and cutting-edge research that responds to industry and community needs.
“Strong partnerships with industry are essential to developing relevant, sustainable and multidisciplinary solutions. Initiatives such as this bursary programme strengthen access to education and help build the capable, future-focused engineering workforce our country requires”, says Prof. Liezl Van Dyk, the executive dean of Faculty of Engineering.
Through this programme, the NWU is helping to ensure the country meets its energy needs and builds the energy leaders of tomorrow.
Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity and Energy, with the 25 NWU engineering students who received Eskom bursaries.
