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Giving back by way of Sanlam Trust Bokamoso Bursary Fund

Sanlam Trust’s Bokamoso Bursary Fund is changing lives by supporting young South Africans through education. This article highlights how financial stewardship, digital learning, and personal mentorship are helping beneficiaries overcome adversity and build brighter futures.
Written by
Advocate Sankie Morata CFP®
Published on
October 17, 2025
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Sanlam Trust administers beneficiary funds for multiple employer groups, providing care and support to more than 20,000 beneficiaries.

Apart from managing financial assets, Sanlam Trust is dedicated to understanding the unique needs of beneficiaries and offering additional value, including education.

In 2023, Sanlam Trust partnered with SmolApp to deliver educational content directly to beneficiaries’ devices. Through this collaboration, SmolApp can identify and address beneficiaries’ learning requirements. Throughout the journey, SmolApp continuously engages with beneficiaries who are awarded bursaries to keep encouraging them to do well.

In 2024, Sanlam Trust granted bursaries of R50,000 each to seven students to support their academic needs in 2025. A rigorous and transparent selection process was conducted to identify deserving candidates.  

Despite this support, students on the bursary programme have faced many challenges, especially accommodation and transport. Even so, they have applied themselves to their studies with admirable dedication, managing to do well and remain positive about their prospects for the future.

“These students’ stories are truly inspiring. Their personal experiences of triumph over adversity bear testimony to the potential that exists in so many young people in our country who may not have the opportunities that others do. We would like to share their stories more broadly, so that more individuals and companies can get involved in supporting young people who want to build bright futures for themselves. We are working to encourage greater involvement in beneficiary welfare support, including from the broader community. We also want to keep motivating our bursary recipients and give them hope.

Two bursary recipients’ stories

(names have been changed to protect their privacy)

LILY MAPETSANE - Studying Bachelor of Education at vocational college

“When I think back to high school, it was not an easy journey. I faced many challenges, but I wanted to push through because I knew education was the only way to change my life and open doors for the future. Losing loved ones was the hardest moments of my life.  

“Bokamoso Education Trust has played a huge role in giving me hope and continuity. For me, it is more than just money – it is a reminder of love, sacrifices, and dreams that we lost.

“I am facing many challenges in doing my tertiary education, but the support I receive keeps me motivated to carry on. It has lifted a huge burden and allows me to focus on my studies.

“ My dream is to complete my studies and create a better life for myself and my family. More than that, I want to use the opportunities I have been given to open doors for others.”

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"It is not enough to provide financial benefits – we must also equip young beneficiaries with financial literacy skills. "

Advocate Sankie Morata CFP®
CEO Sanlam Trust

KABELO JAPHTHA  - Studying Bachelor of Education at vocational college

“When I grew up, I could not decide which career to choose – teacher or lawyer – so I have decided to do both!

“My father passed away in 2021. It was a tough experience for me. I was only 14 years old. It hit me hard and things at school got tough, especially since he died in the middle of the term. I ended up failing that term, but I didn’t give up – I kept pushing and eventually passed Grade 9.

“Even though I lost my father, it somehow felt like he was still taking care of our family – we were covered and supported. In Grade 12, I got in touch with Sanlam Trust, and they really helped me academically. They sent me links to online tutors who assisted with schoolwork and made things so much easier. At the end of my Matric year, Bokamoso Education Trust offered to pay for my tuition.  

“It was a challenge to find a suitable school. Many universities and colleges were already closed for the year, but I kept trying while fearing that if I do not find somewhere, I might lose the bursary. Just as I was about to give up, I found Rosebank College.  

“If it were not for the bursary, I would have had to take a gap year and that’s something I really did not want to do. In the end, everything fell into place. To this day, the Bokamoso team checks up to see how we are doing academically. They fill some of that gap left by my dad passing away. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity they have given me.”

Morata says even more can be done to enhance the positive impact. “Financial advisers should proactively consider beneficiary funds when doing estate planning with their clients, especially where there are minor children. And more funds should establish bursary schemes, like the Sanlam Trust Bokamoso Bursary Fund, to support beneficiaries’ education. It’s also crucial that parents and guardians understand the importance of proper beneficiary nominations on their retirement and insurance policies.”  

Principal Officers and Trustees of pension funds must consider the role and impact that Beneficiary Funds can add for minor beneficiaries – beyond just maintenance – for example the Sanlam Trust Beneficiary Fund that can also add real value to the education of minor beneficiaries.

“It is not enough to provide financial benefits – we must also equip young beneficiaries with financial literacy skills. A structured approach to financial education can prevent young adults from falling into financial distress,” adds Morata.

Sanlam Trust is constantly looking at new ways of adding value to beneficiary fund recipients to ensure lasting positive impact into adulthood.

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