Shoprite Group extends 2026 bursary intake as applications open

Applications close on 31 May 2026.

BUSINESS NEWS - The Shoprite Group has opened applications for its 2026 bursary programme, offering financial support and a guaranteed pathway into employment for ambitious students in Retail Business Management, Accounting, Supply Chain and Logistics, and Biological and Agricultural Sciences.

The bursary covers tuition and accommodation, includes a monthly grocery allowance, provides wellbeing support services through the Group’s Employee Assistance Programme, and incorporates a work-back agreement ensuring a direct transition from graduation into employment within the company.

Thoriso Sethosa, a bursary graduate, joined the Group after the retailer funded her BAcc (CA stream) degree.

She is currently completing her chartered accountant training programme, rotating across key business units to develop the skills required to qualify as a CA(SA) and progress within the organisation.

“The Shoprite bursary didn’t just fund my studies – it gave me access to the industry and a clear pathway into a career I can grow in,” says Sethosa. “It placed me in a data-driven environment that’s equipping me with the skills I need for my future, not just my first job.”

In 2025, for the fourth consecutive year, the Group was named Employer of Choice in the retail sector, receiving the GradStar Students’ Choice Award, and was also recognised as the 2024 Employer of Choice in the retail category for the second year in a row by the South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) Employer Awards.

The Group is further certified as a Top Employer. In the last financial year, it invested over R19 million in its bursary programme, funding more than 250 students.

“Access to education alone is not enough. This bursary programme is about converting potential into long-term careers,” says Lindsey Joseph, Head of Group Talent Solutions at the Group. “By linking funding directly to employment, we are strengthening our talent pipeline and delivering measurable impact where it matters most – jobs, skills and economic participation.”

The Shoprite Group bursary programme is helping to uplift lives every day by supporting education, building workplace-ready skills, and creating long-term career opportunities for South Africa’s youth.

Click here for more information about the bursary programme and how to apply. Applications close on 31 May 2026.