South African graduates now have a major opportunity to gain real work experience through the Department of Employment and Labour’s Graduate Internship Programme, known as Project 20K. This nationwide programme offers 24-month internship placements across all provinces, prioritising unemployed youth and people living with disabilities.
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Quick Overview
Hiring Organisation: Department of Employment and Labour
Programme: Graduate Internship Programme (Project 20K)
Duration: 24 months (2025–2027)
Stipend: ± R7 860.50 per month
Who Can Apply: Unemployed South African graduates aged 18–35
Application Link: Search “Project 20K” on SAYouth.mobi
Closing Date: 05 December 2025 (16:00 walk-ins | 00:00 online)
Employment Type: Internship (no prior experience required)
Special Priority: Youth, previously disadvantaged applicants, and persons with disabilities
About the Department of Employment and Labour
The Department of Employment and Labour is responsible for promoting workplace safety, fair labour practices, employment equity, and job creation across South Africa. The Department delivers services through labour centres in all nine provinces and actively supports youth employment and skills development.
Through Project 20K, the Department is scaling its internship intake to give thousands of graduates hands-on training in areas such as:
- Remote ICT Technicians
- ICT Service Desk Agents
- Contract and Licence Controller (ICT)
- Asset Management Officer (ICT)
- Administration Clerk (ICT)
- Field ICT Technicians
- Labour Market Information and Statistics
- Labour Market Monitoring and Labour Market Information
- Library
- Digital Content Creator
- Researcher
Who Can Apply?
You can apply if:
- You are a South African citizen.
- You are an unemployed graduate.
- You have never participated in any internship programme before.
- You have a recognised qualification:
- National Diploma (NQF 6)
- Bachelor’s Degree (NQF 7)
- You are willing to undergo assessments, interviews, and screening.
- You can secure your own accommodation and transport if applying outside your area.
- You are willing to work for 24 months full-time.
Important:
Shortlisted applicants must submit certified copies of:
- Matric Certificate
- Academic Record / Transcript
- SAQA evaluation if qualification is foreign
- ID
Internship Categories & Minimum Qualifications
-
Remote ICT Technicians – 4 Posts
Qualifications:
Three-year National Diploma (NQF6)/ Undergraduate Degree (NQF7) in Information Technology. A+ and or N+ Certificate will be an advantage
-
ICT Service Desk Agents – 4 Posts
Qualifications:
National Higher Certificate/College Diploma (NQF5) as recognized by SAQA in Information Technology (ICT)/ A+ certificate.
-
Contract and Licence Controller (ICT) – 5 Posts
Qualifications:
A three-year National Diploma (NQF6)/ Undergraduate Degree (NQF7) in Business Management / Administration / Logistics / Financial Management / LLB / Commercial Law / Information Technology.
-
Asset Management Officer (ICT) – 3 Posts
Qualifications:
A three-year tertiary qualification National Diploma (NQF6)/ Undergraduate Degree (NQF7 in Supply Chain Management / Asset Management / Public Management / Public Administration / Business Management / Business Administration / Financial Management / Accounting / Taxation/Internal Auditing.
-
Administration Clerk (ICT) – 1 Post
Qualifications:
A three-year tertiary qualification National Diploma (NQF6)/ Undergraduate Degree (NQF7) in Management/ Public Management/ Public Administration/ Business Management/Business Administration/ Management Assistant/ Office Management and Technology/Administrative Management/ Public Management and Governance.
-
Field ICT Technicians – 50 Posts
Qualifications:
Three-year National Diploma (NQF6)/ Undergraduate Degree (NQF7) in Information Technology / Information Systems / Computer Engineering / Computer Science.
-
Labour Market Information and Statistics – 2 Posts
Qualifications:
Three-year Qualification National Diploma (NQF6)/ Undergraduate Degree (NQF7) in: Economics/ Statistics/ Data analytics/ Social Sciences.
-
Labour Market Monitoring and Labour Market Information – 2 Posts
Qualifications:
Three-year tertiary qualification National Diploma (NQF6)/ Undergraduate Degree (NQF7) in: Economics/ Statistics/ Data analytics/ Social Sciences
-
Library – 1 Post
Qualifications:
Three-year tertiary qualification National Diploma (NQF6) or Degree in Library and Information Science (NQF7) or relevant field.
-
Digital Content Creator – 1 Post
Qualifications:
Three- year tertiary qualification National Diploma (NQF level 6) in Graphic Design, Multimedia, Visual Communication, or equivalent qualification.
-
Researcher – 1 Post
Qualifications:
Three-year tertiary qualification National Diploma (NQF6)/ Undergraduate Degree (NQF7) Public Administration / Social Sciences / Economics.
Before you Apply, Check the Edupstairs Youth Tools Hub below that can be helpful in your application
- Edupstairs Simple CV Builder Tool
- Edupstairs AI Cover Letter Generator Tool
- Edupstairs Learnership Application Checklist Tool
- Edupstairs Internship Application Checklist Tool
- Edupstairs Interview Q & A Coach Tool
- Edupstairs Learnership Stipend Calculator Tool
- NSFAS Funding Eligibility Checker Tool
- Edupstairs Qualification-to-Career Pathways Tool
- South African Salary Explorer Tool
- TVET College Enrolment Eligibility Checker Tool
- Edupstairs Career Personality Tool
- Daily Career Score Tracker
How to Apply (Step-by-Step Guide)
Step 1 — Register or Log In on SAYouth.mobi
Visit:
https://sayouth.mobi/Home/Index/EN
or search “SA Youth” in your browser.
Step 2 — Search for the Opportunity
Type:
Project 20K into the search bar.
Step 3 — Select Your Province & Internship Stream
Choose a category (OHS, BCEA, EEA, EAS, HR, etc.).
Step 4 — Complete the Online Application
Fill in all details accurately.
Step 5 — Upload Documents (If Shortlisted)
You will need:
- Updated CV
- Certified ID
- Certified Matric Certificate
- Certified academic record
- SAQA certificate (if needed)
Step 6 — Attend Assessments & Interviews
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted within 8 weeks after the closing date.
Step 7 — Wait for Final Placement
If successful, you will sign a 24-month internship contract.
DOWNLOAD THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR INTERNSHIPS HERE!!!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Do I need experience to apply?
No. These internships are for unemployed graduates with no experience.
- Can I apply for more than one internship?
Yes, but you must submit separate applications per reference number.
- How long is the internship?
24 months, from 2025 to 2027.
- Will I be paid?
Yes, interns receive a monthly stipend of around R7 860.50.
- What happens if I don’t get a response?
If you are not contacted within 8 weeks, consider your application unsuccessful.
- Do foreign qualifications need SAQA evaluation?
Yes. SAQA evaluation is mandatory.
- Are people with disabilities encouraged to apply?
Yes. The programme prioritises youth and persons with disabilities.
CLOSING DATE: 05 DECEMBER 2025
You can also:
- View latest Internships
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- View latest Municipality vacancies
- Visit the Edupstairs blog for daily updates
Disclaimer
Edupstairs is not a recruitment agency and does not charge fees for job applications. All information in this article is sourced directly from the official advert published by the Department of Employment and Labour. Always apply through official channels only.
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. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR SCAM/FRAUD ALERT PAGE HERE
