Quick Answer: Bursary Affidavit Requirements
An affidavit is a sworn written statement used where a circumstance cannot be evidenced by an ordinary document. In bursary applications it most often covers informal income, unemployment, or a parent who is absent, untraceable or not providing support.
It is a legal statement made under oath, commissioned by a commissioner of oaths, and making a false statement in one is a criminal offence. It should describe your actual circumstances accurately. Requirements.co.za is an independent information website. It does not administer or award bursaries and is not affiliated with any funder.
Who This Requirement Applies To
This guide is for applicants who cannot supply standard evidence for part of their household circumstances.
Where the ordinary evidence is obtainable, supply that instead. An affidavit supplements the evidence route rather than replacing it by preference.
Eligibility Requirements
Affidavits are accepted for defined situations rather than as a general substitute for documents.
Applicant type
- Informal or irregular income, where no payslip or formal record exists.
- Unemployment, where a household member has no income to evidence.
- An absent or untraceable parent, where their income cannot be established.
- A parent who provides no support, despite being contactable.
- Support from someone other than a parent, such as a relative or caregiver.
Documents You May Need
The affidavit is normally submitted with whatever supporting evidence does exist, rather than standing alone.
Required proof
- The signed affidavit, commissioned by a commissioner of oaths.
- Identity document of the person making the statement.
- Any partial evidence that does exist for the circumstance described.
- A death certificate where a parent is deceased, since that is documentary rather than a matter for affidavit.
Steps to Apply or Prepare
Write the statement in plain terms describing the actual circumstance, without overstating it.
Take it, unsigned, to a commissioner of oaths. These are available free at police stations, and at many post offices and legal practices. Sign it in their presence.
Submit it with the application together with any supporting evidence, and keep a copy.
Costs, Processing Times and Validity
Commissioning an affidavit is normally free at a police station, though private practitioners may charge. Funders may require that an affidavit be recent, so check whether an older one will still be accepted.
Common Mistakes and Delays
Common mistake
- Signing the affidavit before reaching the commissioner of oaths, which invalidates it.
- Using an affidavit to avoid supplying evidence that is actually obtainable.
- Describing circumstances inaccurately, which is both a legal risk and a verification problem.
- Submitting an affidavit older than the funder accepts.
- Omitting supporting evidence that does exist alongside it.
Where to Confirm Official Requirements
Confirm what evidence is accepted directly with the organisation administering the bursary, since each funder sets its own rules. The Official Requirements Sources South Africa page links to national bodies. Where information here differs from what the funder publishes, follow the funder.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is an affidavit needed for a bursary?
Where a circumstance cannot be evidenced by an ordinary document, most commonly informal income, unemployment, or an absent or non-supporting parent.
Where do I get an affidavit commissioned?
A commissioner of oaths can commission it. This service is normally available free at police stations, and at many post offices and legal practices.
Can I sign it beforehand?
No. It must be signed in the presence of the commissioner of oaths, otherwise it is not validly commissioned.
Does an affidavit replace income evidence?
Only where the ordinary evidence genuinely does not exist. Where evidence is obtainable, it is normally expected instead.
Where can I confirm what is accepted?
Confirm with the organisation administering the bursary.