The Tiso Foundation is a public benefit organisation (PBO) that was established in 2001 and launched in 2005. Its mission is to support youth education, development, and leadership, with a focus on African potential and talent. The Foundation was created by the founders of the Tiso Group, who dedicated a substantial portion of their shares to establish an organization that would actively develop African potential and talent through quality education. The Foundation has reached over 42,000 lives and invested over R100 million in educational and skills development programs.
The Foundation's values include a dedication to African excellence, a value-based, holistic approach to supporting deserving students, partnerships and collaborations with leading South African and international institutions, a drive towards unlocking and developing future leaders, and the establishment of a self-sufficient African philanthropic organization.
The Tiso Foundation was one of the principal and founding shareholders of the Tiso Group, an investment holding company established in June 2001. In July 2011, Tiso Group merged with Kagiso Trust Investments to form Kagiso Tiso Holdings (KTH), resulting in the Tiso Foundation becoming a principal shareholder in KTH. The Foundation's shareholding value in KTH is today worth approximately R750 million.
The Foundation's founding trustees mandated the organization to prioritize support to the development of black youth whose future fortunes are intricately tied to the future of South Africa. The Foundation believes that investing in the development of world-class skills, educational facilities, and future leaders is a national priority that benefits all, and is dedicated to fulfilling this mission.
Bursary description
The Archibald Mafeje PhD Scholarship was born out of the need to promote doctoral studies in the country. Due to low participation rates, coupled with poor completion rates at Masters and Doctoral levels, and insufficient funding of post-doctoral studies the Foundation established the Archibald Mafeje PhD Scholarship in 2014. The Scholarship was established in honour of the late Professor Mafeje who was an influential academic, who was denied access to various Professorships under the apartheid regime. This PhD Scholarship aims to honour his academic legacy as well as his ideals of democracy.
Requirements and eligibility
Eligibility requirements for the Archibald Mafeje PhD Scholarship can be viewed below:
Applicants must be citizens of South Africa
Applicants must belong to the previously disadvantaged groups recognised by the South African government, such as Black, Coloured or Indian
Applicants must hold a Master's degree
Applicants must be enrolled in a recognized and accredited South African university for a PhD program
Applicants must be willing to pursue the PhD on a full-time basis for a period of 3 years; part-time studies will not be considered
Applicants must have a supervisor assigned to them.
How to apply
Call for 2025 bursary applications will be announced as soon as they open.
