80% of scholarships at research facilities must go to black South Africans

The Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, said that 80% of scholarships at research facilities must go to black South African.

He added that 55% of these funded scholarships must go to women, and 1% to people living with disabilities.

Another criterion is that it must promote access and support for historically disadvantaged individuals and institutions.

Nzimande revealed this in response to a Parliamentary question by National Assembly member Wynand Boshoff about research institutions.

Boshoff asked the Minister for details about the draft Regulations Relating to the Declaration of Research Institutions Eligible for Grant Funding.

It was published for public comment in the Government Gazette on 16 February 2026, which his department confirmed would be implemented without amendment.

Nzimande responded, explaining that institutions must meet specific criteria to be declared eligible to receive National Research Foundation grant funding.

This included that it must be an institution with a public research mandate, which has research as a core activity.

If it is not a higher education institution, it must partner with an accredited institution offering postgraduate qualifications.

There are numerous requirements for institutions which receive research grant funding from the government.

These facilities should adopt the 2026 South African Open Science Policy and must have data management plans in place.

Publications resulting from publicly funded research must be made available online free of cost and without access barriers, while authors retain rights.

Open Science practices must also be integrated into research training, and entities must use a federated national infrastructure to ensure interoperability.

Transformation at research facilities

Nzimande said that, in terms of capacity development, the facilities will be subjected to transformation policies.

These transformation policies include the Post-graduate Student Funding Policy and planning documents, such as annual performance plans, that promote transformation.

“These documents have set targets of 80% of funded scholarships for Black South African citizens and permanent residents,” he said.

“It also demands 55% women and 1% people living with disabilities, as well as promoting access and support of historically disadvantaged individuals.”

He said that compliance with the requirements, including transformation policies, will be assessed for all institutions that receive funding.

This will be done in accordance with the approved access policy and the applicable policies, guidelines, and funding conditions of the National Research Foundation.

“Relevant indicators will include whether the facility has an approved and implemented access policy,” he said.

They must provide physical, virtual, or remote access and have arrangements in place to manage and share publicly funded data, records, and reports.

“These research institutions, which receive grant funding, must also contribute to transformation imperatives,” he said.