Nelson Mandela University believes that no academically deserving student should be denied education due to financial constraints. Yet, many remain unfunded, including missing middle students—those who earn too much for government aid but too little to afford university. Others face historical debt, preventing graduation, while postgraduates lack NSFAS support despite the need for advanced qualifications. Financial hardship also leads to hunger, with 1 in 3 students missing meals, impacting their health, grades, and well-being. By donating to the University’s bursary, scholarship, and food support programmes, you help students succeed and contribute to a stronger, more just South Africa.

Donations so far

Target = R12m

Student Nutrition

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Proper nutrition is vital for academic success, yet one in three students misses at least one meal a day due to financial constraints. This impacts concentration, energy, and well-being, leading to lower grades, higher stress, and an increased risk of dropping out.

Your donation to Nelson Mandela University’s food support programmes ensures students don’t have to choose between food and education. By providing proper nourishment, you help them focus, excel academically, and build a brighter future. Invest in student nutrition—invest in South Africa’s future.

Bursaries and Scholarships

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Expanding access for success is key to transforming the University, breaking the cycle of poverty, and promoting social justice. However, many students remain unfunded, especially postgraduates and missing middle students, who fall outside government aid schemes.

Postgraduates, vital to research and innovation, receive no NSFAS support, while missing middle students earn too much for aid but too little to afford university. Your donation to Nelson Mandela University’s bursary and scholarship programme helps bridge this gap, ensuring deserving students can complete their studies and build a stronger South Africa.

Chancellor’s Entrepreneurship

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Nelson Mandela University strives to advance student life beyond academic success through entrepreneurship. With the national crisis of unemployment, the Mandela University Africa Hub primarily fights the crisis by advancing entrepreneurship in higher education. This key priority’s success lies on collaboration and support from all spheres, and your support is required.

By donating to the Chancellor’s Entrepreneurship Fund, you help student entrepreneurs upscale their enterprises. The funds are directed towards businesses focusing on innovation, technology, green energy, environmental sustainability, and Nelson Mandela University’s objectives as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ways to Give

• Online debit and credit card payments

  Terms and Conditions

  1. This online payment/ donation facility is used at the payer’s own risk;
  2. The payer/ donator warrants that the credit card used to make payment is issued in his/her name and that he/she is authorised to incur charges against the credit card;
  3. It is important that the correct details be stated when using this online payment /donatation facility to ensure that the payer’s payment is allocated correctly;
  4. If payment/ donation is not properly recorded, please inform the university immediately and present proof of payment/donation;
  5. The university does not accept liability for a payment /donation not reaching the correct account by reason of the payer quoting an incorrect reference number;
  6. The university does not accept liability if payment /donation is refused or declined by the payer’s credit supplier for any reason;
  7. If the credit supplier declines payment /donation, the university is under no obligation to bring this fact to the payer’s /donator’s attention. The payer/ donator must check to ensure that payment has been made;
  8. All payments /donations must be made in South African Rands. Any currency conversion costs or other charges incurred in making the payment shall be for the payer’s /donator’s account and shall not be deductible from any amounts due to the university;
  9. The payer’s /donator’s private information required for the purpose of making use of this online payment facility shall be kept in strict confidence at all times. Credit card details are not kept by the university for the purpose of online payments;
  10. The payer/ donator is responsible for keeping the computer or other electronic device used to make payment free from viruses and malicious programmes. The payer hereby acknowledges that failure to do so may lead to the interception of data by unauthorised persons;
  11. The university shall not be liable for any security breaches occurring on the payer’s /donator’s electronic device which may result due to a lack of adequate virus protection software or spyware that the payer may inadvertently have installed on such device;
  12. All payments / donations made via this online payment facility shall be processed by the PayGate Internet Payment Gateway. The PayGate security policy may be viewed at www.paygate.co.za
  13. Once payment has been verified and received by PayGate the payment may not be cancelled by the payer. No ‘cash back’ transactions will be allowed;
  14. When overpayments are made, . the university shall be entitled to offset any amounts which may be due to the university against the overpaid amount. If there are no amounts due to the university, the overpayment shall be refunded.
  15. The university shall not be held liable for any direct, indirect, special, consequential or other damage or loss of any kind whatsoever suffered or incurred by the payer or any third party resulting from, or in connection with, the use of, or the inability to use, this online payment facility;
  16. The account holder shall at all times remain responsible to ensure that all amounts owing to the university are paid to, and reach the university, timeously;
  17. The university may amend these terms and conditions from time to time. Any changes to these terms and conditions will take effect immediately on being set out herein. It is the payer’s responsibility to ensure that he/she is aware of the current terms and conditions;
  18. If any provision of these terms and conditions is found to be null and void or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, such provision shall be severable from the remainder of these terms and conditions, which shall remain of full force and effect;
  19. These terms and conditions shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the provisions of South African law.

• Direct Deposit (EFT)

  Donors must please include the cost centre “X180” as part of their transaction description.
  Account Name: Nelson Mandela University Trust
  Bank: ABSA
  Branch Code: 632005
  Account Number: 16 4017 2998
  Swift Code: ABSAZAJJ (international payments)

• Recurring salary payments

  Staff must please contact payroll@mandela.ac.za

• Donations in kind

  Please contact Dr Oswald Franks (Oswald.Franks@mandela.ac.za, (+27) 41 504 4035)

• Gifts, endowments or bequests

  Alumni and friends considering major gifts, endowments or bequests can contact Paul Geswindt (Paul.Geswindt@mandela.ac.za)

Make Your Gift Today

✔ Secure online donation

✔ Tax-deductible contributions

Donations to the University are tax deductible under Section 18A of the Income Tax Act. Information required for Section 18A tax certificates is catered for in options 1 and 3. For option 2 (EFT) please provide your name, postal address and proof of transfer in a separate email to Jennilee.Bezuidenhout@mandela.ac.za.

✔ Hassle-free giving process

Frequently Asked Questions

• How will my donation be used?

  Every rand is allocated according to your chosen fund, with full transparency.

• Can I set up a recurring donation?

  Yes! Monthly gifts ensure sustainable support.

• Is my donation tax-deductible?

  Yes, all contributions are tax-deductible. A receipt will be provided.

Need Assistance?

📩 Email: giving@mandela.ac.za

📞 Call: (+27) 41 504 4035

📍 Office: Eleanor Xiniwe Building

Ocean Sciences Campus, Summerstrand, Gqeberha