Free State DESTEA Opens Culture Tourist Guide Training Programme for 2026

The Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA), together with Kopanong Local Municipality, has officially opened applications for a Culture Tourist Guide Training Programme aimed at training 10 tourist guides along the Springbok Route heritage sites within Kopanong.

And yes — unemployed youth are the main target, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Tourism is one of South Africa’s biggest job-creation industries, especially in local areas where cultural heritage, storytelling, and guiding can turn into real income, self-employment, and long-term career growth. If you live close to the sites and you’re passionate about tourism, this could be your entry point.

Quick Overview

Opportunity: Culture Tourist Guide Training Programme (Skills Development Programme)
Host/Department: DESTEA (Free State Province)
Partner Municipality: Kopanong Local Municipality
Number of beneficiaries: 10 Tourist Guides
Target area: Springbok Route Heritage Sites (Kopanong Local Municipality)
Who can apply: Unemployed youth (18–35) living within the required radius
Closing date: 06 February 2026
Where to submit: Xhariep District Municipality, Trompsburg
Enquiries: Mr A.M. Leeuw – 066 487 2856

Minimum Requirements (You Must Meet These)

Applicants must meet the following minimum criteria:

The applicant should:

Be a South African citizen (you must submit a certified copy of your ID)
Be an unemployed youth between 18 and 35 years old
Be in possession of a Matric certificate or an equivalent qualification
Be literate and able to communicate in English
Have passion or interest in the tourism sector
Live within a 40km – 60km radius of the attractions/sites
(Proof of residence is required, for example: municipality bill or a letter from a tribal authority / ward councillor)
Added qualifications in Tourism or Environmental-related fields will be an added advantage

Important tip: Even if you have matric, you must still prove you live within the required distance range. This requirement is very strict.

Disqualification Rules (Very Important)

Many people lose opportunities because they rush and ignore the disqualification rules.

According to the advert, applicants will be disqualified if:

There is more than one (1) learner per household
Affidavits will NOT be accepted as proof of residence

This means you must submit acceptable residence proof (not a police affidavit).

So if your brother/sister already applied from the same household, it may automatically disqualify one or both of you — so plan wisely as a family.

Documents You Must Submit

Applicants who meet the requirements must submit:

A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Certified copies of:
- qualifications (Matric certificate / academic records)
- identity document (ID)
- proof of residence (not older than 3 months)

They also mention:

All applicants will be required to sign commitment letters to complete the programme.

So make sure you apply only if you are serious and available to complete the training.

How to Apply

Here is the best way to apply without mistakes:

Step 1: Update your CV

Your CV must be detailed and relevant. Add:

your personal details
your education
any volunteering work
languages you speak (important for guiding)
interests (tourism, culture, local history, heritage)

Step 2: Certify your documents

Go to the police station or commissioner of oaths and certify:

ID copy
Matric certificate copy
any additional certificates

Make sure certification is clear and not cut off.

Step 3: Get valid proof of residence (not older than 3 months)

Acceptable proof includes:

municipal bill
official letter from ward councillor
tribal authority letter

Do not use affidavits — you will be disqualified.

Step 4: Put everything in 1 neat application pack

Arrange in this order:

CV
Certified ID
Certified Matric certificate
Proof of residence

Step 5: Submit before the closing date

Closing Date: 06/02/2026

Do not wait until the last day— offices get busy and you might miss the deadline.

Why They Want People Living Near the Sites

This requirement is not to “exclude” others — it’s because tourist guiding is community-based.

If you live near the attractions, you are more likely to:

attend training easily
become available for guiding work at the sites
help grow local tourism from within the community
reduce travel costs and transport barriers

This is a very common rule in local tourism development programmes.

Where to Submit Your Application (Physical Submission)

Applications must be submitted at:

Xhariep District Municipality

Physical Address: 20 Iouw Street, Trompsburg
Postal Address: Private Bag X136, Trompsburg, 9913

Best advice: Submit by hand (if possible) and ask for a stamp/signature as proof of submission.

Enquiries / Contact Details

For enquiries contact:

Mr A.M. Leeuw: 066 487 2856

Be professional when calling:

greet properly
ask what the programme start date is
ask if applications must be delivered in person
confirm what proof of residence is accepted

How Edupstairs Helps You Prepare

At Edupstairs, we don’t just post opportunities—we help you win them.

Recommended Tools:

Edupstairs Advice (So You Stand Out)

Here’s how to give yourself a strong advantage:

1) Show passion for tourism in your CV

Don’t just submit a generic CV. Add a short profile like:

“I am an unemployed youth passionate about heritage, culture, and creating memorable experiences for visitors while promoting local tourism development.”

2) Highlight languages you speak

Tourism loves multilingual guides. If you speak:

English
Sesotho
isiXhosa
Afrikaans
mention it clearly.

3) Add local knowledge

Mention:

local attractions you know
your community involvement
school leadership roles

4) Be reachable

Use a working phone number and professional email.

5) Don’t submit late proof of residence

Your proof must be recent (not older than 3 months).

Career Growth Path After This Programme

This is the part many applicants don’t think about, but it matters.

Once you complete tourist guiding training, you can grow into roles like:

Entry Level

Cultural Tourist Guide
Heritage Site Guide
Local Tour Assistant

Intermediate Level

Professional Tourist Guide (registered/recognized pathway)
Tour Coordinator
Visitor Experience Officer

Advanced Level

Tour Operator (run your own tours)
Tourism Business Owner (local packages, cultural experiences)
Tourism Marketing & Destination Promoter
Museum / Heritage Centre Programme Officer

Tourism can also connect you into:

hospitality management
events coordination
entrepreneurship programmes (especially local SMME support)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1) Is this programme only for people in the Free State?

Yes. This programme is a Free State Provincial Government initiative and is targeted within the Kopanong Local Municipality area.

2) Can I apply if I am older than 35?

No. The advert states applicants must be 18 to 35 years old.

3) Can I apply if I don’t have Matric?

You need Matric or an equivalent qualification, according to the requirements.

4) Can I use an affidavit as proof of residence?

No. The advert clearly states no affidavits will be accepted.

5) What if 2 people in my household want to apply?

The advert says not more than one learner per household. This can disqualify applications.

6) Is a tourism qualification required?

No, but a qualification in tourism or environmental fields is an added advantage.

7) Are people with disabilities allowed to apply?

Yes. The advert clearly says people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

8) Where do I submit my application?

You submit at Xhariep District Municipality, Trompsburg (address included above).

CLOSING DATE: 06 FEBRUARY 2026

You can also:

Application Outcome Tracker (anonymous)

No names collected. This helps future applicants understand real-world timelines.

Have you applied for this opportunity?

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Disclaimers

Edupstairs is not the hiring department and does not guarantee placement.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee selection.
Late applications may not be accepted.
Always confirm details with the official contact person provided.
Applicants may be required to sign commitment letters before training starts.

EDUPSTAIRS IS A REGISTERED NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION NPO No: 232 – 182, PUBLIC BENEFIT ORGANISATION (PBO): 930066984. EDUPSTAIRS DOES NOT, IN ANY WAY OR FORM, SOLICIT MONEY OR CV’S FROM PEOPLE FOR JOBS. PLEASE BE AWARE OF PHONY JOB POSTINGS AND RECRUITMENT FRAUD. USE THE EDUPSTAIRS SCAM DETECTOR TOOL TO SPOT A SCAM BEFORE YOU APPLY

Edupstairs TrustScore™

100 /100

Verified / Low Risk This is an evidence-based risk assessment to help applicants verify opportunities.

OrganisationFree State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA)

SourceOfficial social media (verified)

Open source link

Apply viaIn-person / Walk-in

ReferenceDESTEA_Tourist Guide2026

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