South African youth looking to gain valuable work experience in tourism and hospitality now have an exciting opportunity to apply for the Integrated Service Excellence Programme (ISEP) 2026. The programme is being offered by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with Harambee and South African National Parks (SANParks) to empower unemployed young people with practical workplace experience while contributing to South Africa’s tourism sector.
This initiative is specifically aimed at unemployed youth living near participating tourism sites. Successful applicants will receive a monthly stipend of R4,600 for a 12-month contract, making it an excellent opportunity for young people who are passionate about tourism, hospitality, customer service, and environmental conservation.
Applications are currently open for the Golden Gate Highlands National Park opportunity in the Free State, and interested applicants must apply before 10 July 2026.
Quick Overview
- Programme: Integrated Service Excellence Programme (ISEP) 2026
- Organisation: Department of Tourism in partnership with Harambee and SANParks
- Province: Free State
- Location: Golden Gate Highlands National Park
- Programme Duration: 12 Months
- Monthly Stipend: R4,600
- Closing Date: 10 July 2026
- Age Requirement: 18–35 years
- Minimum Qualification: Matric (Grade 12)
- Application Platform: mobi
About the Integrated Service Excellence Programme
The Integrated Service Excellence Programme (ISEP) is a youth employment initiative designed to improve service excellence within South Africa’s tourism industry while creating meaningful work opportunities for unemployed young people.
The Department of Tourism recognises that many young South Africans struggle to enter the labour market because they lack practical experience. Through partnerships with organisations such as Harambee and SANParks, the programme provides structured workplace exposure that allows participants to develop valuable skills in real tourism environments.
Participants will work at tourism destinations where they will assist with customer service, visitor support, tourism information, hospitality-related activities, and environmental awareness initiatives.
Besides earning a monthly stipend, participants also gain workplace experience that can strengthen their CVs and improve future employment prospects.
Monthly Stipend
Successful applicants will receive:
- Monthly stipend of R4,600
- Paid for a maximum of 23 working days per month
- Practical workplace experience
- Exposure to tourism operations
- Skills development
- Professional workplace training
Although the programme is temporary, the experience gained can significantly improve employability.
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity is ideal for unemployed young South Africans who:
- Enjoy working with people
- Have an interest in tourism
- Want hospitality experience
- Love nature and conservation
- Want to build workplace experience
- Need practical skills to improve future employment opportunities
If you have been struggling to secure your first job because employers require experience, programmes like this are designed to help bridge that gap.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a South African citizen.
- Be between the ages of 18 and 35 years.
- Have a Matric Certificate (submit a certified copy).
- Submit a certified copy of your South African ID.
- Provide proof of residence.
- Municipal bill, letter from a Tribal Authority, or another valid proof of residence will be accepted.
- Declare in the application letter if you have previously participated in the Department of Tourism learnership or skills programmes.
- Be willing to work flexible hours.
- Be available to work weekends and public holidays when required.
- Have a passion for travel, tourism and hospitality.
- Have a clear criminal record.
Residence Requirement
One important requirement is that applicants must stay within a 30-kilometre radius of the participating tourism site.
This ensures that participants are drawn from nearby communities and local land claimant communities.
If you do not live within the required distance, your application may not be considered.
Skills You Can Develop
Participants can expect to strengthen several workplace skills, including:
- Customer service
- Communication
- Professional etiquette
- Hospitality services
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Tourism operations
- Visitor assistance
- Workplace professionalism
These transferable skills can open doors in many industries beyond tourism.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through SAYouth.mobi.
Follow these steps:
- Visit SAYouth.mobi.
- Register if you do not already have an account.
- Registration takes approximately four minutes.
- Log in if you already have a profile.
- Search for “Internship” if the opportunity does not immediately appear.
- Locate the Integrated Service Excellence Programme opportunity for Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
- Complete your application.
- Upload the required supporting documents.
SAYouth is free to use and does not require mobile data on participating networks.
Documents You Should Prepare
Before applying, have the following ready:
- Certified copy of your South African ID
- Certified copy of your Matric Certificate
- Proof of residence
- Updated CV
- Contact details
- Any supporting documents requested during the online application
Preparing these documents in advance will make the application process much smoother.
Closing Date: 10 July 2026
Late applications are unlikely to be accepted, so submit your application as early as possible.
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Edupstairs Advice
Government-funded youth employment programmes are often highly competitive, so submitting your application early is always recommended.
Before applying:
- Ensure your CV is updated.
- Certify your documents.
- Double-check your contact details.
- Read all application instructions carefully.
- Keep copies of everything you submit.
- Regularly check your SAYouth profile for updates or communication regarding your application.
Even if you are not selected this time, continue applying for similar internships, learnerships, and youth employment programmes. Every application increases your chances of securing valuable workplace experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can apply?
South African citizens aged between 18 and 35 who meet all the programme requirements.
- Is this a permanent job?
No. It is a fixed-term employment programme lasting 12 months.
- What qualification is required?
Applicants must have a Matric Certificate.
- How much is the stipend?
Successful participants will receive R4,600 per month, based on a maximum of 23 days worked each month.
- Where will participants work?
This opportunity is available at Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State.
- Do I need previous work experience?
No previous work experience is mentioned as a requirement.
- Can I apply if I live far away?
Applicants should reside within a 30 km radius of the participating site.
- Where do I apply?
Applications are submitted through SAYouth.mobi.
You can also:
- View latest Internships
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- View latest Municipality vacancies
- Visit the Edupstairs blog for daily updates
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Disclaimer
This article is intended to provide an easy-to-understand summary of the advertised opportunity. Edupstairs is not the recruiting organisation and does not influence the selection process. Applicants should always refer to the official application platform and advertisement for the latest information, eligibility requirements, and application instructions before submitting an application.
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