Some people are offered bursaries by different organisations and they end up dropping some so there is plenty of space in most parastatals and private organisations, so for you who did not get a scholarship at this point in time, it would be advisable to email the specific companies and notify them of your results and interest in pursuing further studies. I can personally say I took this route, and it worked out quite well, a letter of rejection does not always mean NO. You should also explore studies outside your comfort zone, a different city, different country, maybe even a different planet.
Gap year
Deciding what to do? Or maybe the university only starts sometime later this year? Well whatever the case may be, if taking a break is what you want, then I say go for it. I know many people who have started university just for the sake of being at university drop out halfway through due to lack of interest. Unless you are the son of Bill Gates, this can be quite expensive for your parents and stressful to you mentally. If you are not sure of what you want to do at Uni, take a gap year and go offer your services somewhere they are needed. In the Winter of 2012 I took on a Teaching Job at a College in Keetmanshoop. Besides the extra pocket money, I learnt a few life lessons and met amazing people. Teaching might not be your thing, so go shadow an Engineer(or anybody in a profession you admire); volunteer at a local place(soup kitchen, school, kidergarten) or you can even travel( if money is not a factor). This year might just be instrumental in your life path and career choice.
Working
Find a job that you can easily grow in. University and tertiary education(although preferred), are not the only way out if you are confident that you can make it in a specific market. I say go for it, it would also always help to attend a few workshops and short courses whenever possible, since certificates might always come in handy for the next tender, out of all options, this is probably the hardest.
Sit at home and play XBOX, well, uhm, you could, but do not be sour if the rest of your friends and peers leave you behind, what you do now determines what you will be doing for the rest of your life, if you decide to stay idle, the world will pass you by and it might be too late by then.From My side though, best of luck and welcome to the real world, Adulthood eagerly awaits you.
(The author, Michael Nauta, is a former member of the Junior parliament, an avid debator, and a motivational speaker. He is currently in his 2nd year of his Mechanical Engineering course at the National Institute of Technology at Durganu in India with a scholarship from the Indian Council for Cultural (ICCR)