Top South African company under fire for ‘no whites’ initiative

Bidvest has come under fire for its school bursary programme, which excludes white children as it is only open to Black, Indian, and Coloured kids.

The Bidvest school bursary programme is open to school-going children from Grade 4 to Grade 12, for the benefit of employees.

Full-time employees can apply for the program if they earn less than R15,300 per month before deductions.

The Bidvest bursary covers school fees, stationery from Waltons, school uniforms, and assistance with extra classes.

The Bidvest flyer for the programme, titled “2026 – School Bursary Applications”, states that “You must be African, Coloured or Indian” to apply.

Trade union Solidarity chief executive, Dirk Hermann, described the bursary as racist as it excludes all white children.

“What Bidvest is doing for black children is noble, but what the company is doing to white children is racist,” he said.

“We plan to send them a follow-up legal letter next week. Depending on Bidvest’s response, we are considering various actions, which may include litigation and a complaint to the JSE.”

Hermann also wrote an open letter to Bidvest chief executive, Mpumi Madisa, arguing that it is ‘wrong in every aspect’.

“The exclusion of white people turns this program into a race-based program,” the Solidarity chief executive told Madisa.

He stated that the United Nations’ guidelines on race-based programs stipulate that class, rather than race, should be used. “Absolute race-based programs are illegal,” he said.

“Exclusion based on race goes against the spirit of the agreement reached between Solidarity and the government under the supervision of the International Labour Organisation.”

“Be a leader and a mother. Bidvest is a leading company. Don’t be a follower of racial ideology. Break the cycle of racial obsession.”

Solidarity’s head of public liaison, Jaco Kleynhans, listed several Bidvest companies which people can boycott if they are unhappy with the company.

He listed Adcock Ingram, Bidvest Protea Coin, Bidvest McCarthy, Waltons, Bidvest Steiner, Voltex, Bidvest Noonan, Plumblink, and Bidvest International Logistics.

Bidvest explains the exclusion of white children

Julian Gwillim, the founder and chief executive of Aprio Strategic Communications, responded to Hermann on behalf of Bidvest.

He explained that the Bidvest Education Trust, previously known as the Dinatla Trust, is behind the bursary.

The Dinatla Trust was established in 2003 as a CSI shareholding structure that formed part of Dinatla.

Dinatla was a broad-based black economic empowerment consortium that owned 35% of the Bidvest Group.

In line with the B-BBEE Act 53 of 2003, the Trust was formed for the sole purpose of uplifting Historically Disadvantaged Individuals who are employees of the Bidvest Group.

“It has been operational for over 22 years and very successful in changing the lives of our employees and their families,” Gwillim said.

He added that as a South African company, the Bidvest Group will continue to work toward advancing workplace equality and inclusion.

It will also work towards broadening the economic participation of Black people – African, Coloured and Indian – in the South African economy.

“We not only comply with, but fully endorse and support, the principles and objectives of the policies and laws of our country that are fundamental to achieving our collective economic and social ambitions,” Gwillim said.

2026 – School Bursary Applications flyer