Precious metals refiner Rand Refinery has expanded its bursary programme and socioeconomic initiatives.

Since its inception in 2023, the Rand Refinery Bursary Scheme has grown, with the number of bursaries awarded increasing every year, from ten in 2023 to 26 in 2024, 59 in 2025 and 94 this year.

This includes settling historical debt for 32 tertiary students.

To date, Rand Refinery has awarded 189 bursaries, totalling R17-million.

The Rand Refinery Bursary Scheme supports high-performing students with an aggregate of 70% or higher, focusing on technical qualifications aligned with the refinery’s core business.

In recognition of the evolving needs of the industry and communities, the scheme now also includes commercial students.

Bursary recipients must maintain an aggregate of 70% or higher each year to continue benefiting from the programme.

At its latest recognition ceremony on March 6, the refinery honoured 94 outstanding students across six key categories: this entailed 18 in the Rand Refinery Bursary Scheme (Full Awards); seven in the Rand Refinery Bursary Scheme (Partial Award); ten in the National Accredited Technical Education - NATED Bursary; ten in the Apprenticeship Bursary; 17 in the Top Matriculants; and 32 students awarded bursaries to settle their historical debt.

“Rand Refinery is proud to support these students on their educational journeys. We look forward to witnessing their academic growth, their future contributions to the South African economy and their emergence as leaders in their chosen fields,” Rand Refinery CEO Dean Subramanian said at the award ceremony.

Last year, Rand Refinery intensified its focus on education, aligning socioeconomic development initiatives with the needs of 14 underprivileged primary and secondary schools across South Africa, including in Ekurhuleni.

Between January and February this year, it delivered 1 200 educational resource packs, valued at R788 532, to schools in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the Free State, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. 

Each pack contained essential learning materials and a backpack.

The company also donated school shoes worth R410 723.

This year, Rand Refinery further supported education by donating resource libraries with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) textbooks and study guides, valued at R463 671, to six secondary schools across four provinces. 

The company will also invest in several projects at the identified schools. This entails a R150 000 STEM Teachers Conference; a R300 000 Literacy Programme (for primary schools): R3.8-million in ablutions facilities; R1.5-million chemistry or laboratory facilities; R1-million in STEM tutoring services; and R98 171 in sports equipment.