Wits Health Consortium YES Programme 2026/2027: X23 Opportunities for Unemployed Youth in Gauteng

Wits Health Consortium (Pty) Ltd is inviting unemployed young South Africans to apply for its Youth Employment Services (YES) Programme for 2026/2027.

This is a substantial youth employment intake, with 23 opportunities available across finance, human resources, risk and compliance, training, grants administration, legal administration, procurement, fleet management, maintenance and general office support.

The opportunities are based in Gauteng and are offered on 12-month fixed-term contracts. Applications close on 14 September 2026.

Importantly, the programme is not limited to graduates. While several positions require a diploma, degree or higher certificate, the Office Assistant positions require Grade 12, while the Maintenance Assistant position requires Grade 12, with a trade qualification considered advantageous.

Wits Health Consortium describes the programme as an initiative aimed at enabling unemployed youth to access employment opportunities, income generation, skills development and personal development. A recent public post from the organisation also confirms that it is hosting its YES programme for 2026/2027.

Wits Health Consortium YES Programme 2026/2027: Quick Overview

About Wits Health Consortium

Wits Health Consortium (Pty) Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of the Witwatersrand. The organisation operates within the health research and research-support environment and is headquartered in Johannesburg, Gauteng.

The organisation has previously recruited young people through YES. In fact, Edupstairs covered the Wits Health Consortium YES Programme 2025/2026, which offered 26 positions across areas such as finance, HR, grants, fleet administration and office support.

The new 2026/2027 intake therefore represents another opportunity for qualifying unemployed youth to obtain structured workplace exposure.

23 Wits Health Consortium YES Vacancies Available

According to the 2026/2027 advert, the positions are distributed as follows:

Applicants should pay particular attention to the reference number because the relevant reference and job title must be included in the email subject line.

Minimum Requirements for the YES Programme

The official advert states that applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Applicants must be Black South Africans as defined by the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act. The advert specifies African, Coloured or Indian individuals who hold South African citizenship.
• Applicants must be between 18 and 29 years old.
• Applicants must be currently unemployed.
• Applicants must not previously have participated in a YES Programme with another organisation.
• Candidates should demonstrate a positive attitude.
• Candidates should show a willingness to learn.
• Applicants must demonstrate commitment to the programme.

These requirements are consistent with the details published for the current Wits Health Consortium intake.

Qualifications Required for Each Position

One of the advantages of this intake is the range of education levels represented. Applicants should select the position that most closely matches their qualifications.

1. Risk and Compliance Administrator – X2

Reference: YES001

There are two Risk and Compliance Administrator opportunities.

The desirable education is:

• Degree in Risk Management or a related qualification – X1
• Diploma or Degree in Information Technology – X1

This creates an interesting opportunity for both risk-management and IT graduates.

2. Finance Administrator – X5

Reference: YES002

Desirable qualification:

• Diploma or Degree in Accounting/Finance

With five positions available, this is one of the largest categories in the intake.

Applicants who want to understand how their Accounting or Finance qualification connects with possible occupations can also use the Edupstairs Career & Qualification Explorer, which allows users to search South African careers, SAQA qualifications, NQF levels and career-to-qualification connections.

Explore Careers and SAQA Qualifications on Edupstairs

3. Training Administrator – X1

Reference: YES003

Desirable education:

• Diploma or Degree in Human Resource Management; or
• Diploma or Degree in Instructional Design; or
• Related qualification.

This opportunity may particularly suit HR graduates interested in employee learning, workplace training or skills development.

4. Grant Administrator – X5

Reference: YES004

Desirable qualification:

• Diploma or Degree in Accounting/Finance

There are five Grant Administrator opportunities available.

5. HR Administrator – X4

Reference: YES005

Desirable qualification:

• Diploma or Degree in Human Resource Management

There are four positions, making HR another significant component of the programme.

Human Resources is also one of the career areas available through the Edupstairs Career & Qualification Explorer, alongside Finance, ICT, Engineering, Healthcare, Education and Trades. The platform currently provides access to thousands of SAQA qualification records and OFO career records.

6. Legal Office Administrator – X1

Reference: YES006

Desirable qualification:

• Diploma or Degree in Law or a related field

This may provide an entry point for a qualifying law graduate seeking practical exposure to legal administration in an organisational environment.

7. Procurement Administrator – X1

Reference: YES007

Desirable qualification:

• Diploma or Degree in Supply Chain Management/Procurement

Applicants with procurement, logistics or supply-chain qualifications should consider whether their studies align with this opportunity.

8. Fleet Administrator – X1

Reference: YES008

Desirable qualification:

• Higher Certificate or Diploma in Fleet Management, or a related qualification.

9. Maintenance Assistant – X1

Reference: YES009

Required/desirable education:

• Grade 12
• A trade qualification will be advantageous

This is particularly noteworthy because applicants do not necessarily need a university degree or diploma.

10. Office Assistant – X2

Reference: YES010

Education: Grade 12

There are two Office Assistant positions, making this one of the opportunities in the programme accessible to eligible applicants whose highest qualification is Matric.

Grade 12 Applicants Should Pay Attention to These Positions

Young people sometimes assume that YES programmes are exclusively graduate programmes. That is not the case with this particular intake.

Two categories specifically accommodate Grade 12 applicants:

Office Assistant – X2: Grade 12.

Maintenance Assistant – X1: Grade 12, although possessing a relevant trade qualification would be advantageous.

Therefore, an eligible unemployed 18–29-year-old with Matric should not automatically exclude themselves simply because they do not hold a tertiary qualification.

At the same time, applicants should apply only for positions for which they genuinely meet the advertised education requirements.

What Is the YES Programme?

The Youth Employment Service model is intended to help young South Africans obtain workplace experience and improve their prospects of entering sustainable employment.

Edupstairs has covered numerous YES opportunities from South African employers. For example, its coverage of the TFG YES Programme explains how a 12-month placement can give young people practical workplace skills, professional exposure and experience that can strengthen future employability.

Edupstairs also maintains a dedicated collection of YES Programme opportunities, which job seekers can use to discover additional intakes.

View more YES Programme opportunities on Edupstairs

Why This Programme Could Be Valuable

The immediate value is the opportunity to spend 12 months gaining workplace experience.

For young people caught in the familiar situation of seeing entry-level vacancies asking for previous experience, programmes of this nature can provide a bridge between education and the labour market.

Depending on the position, participants may gain exposure relevant to areas such as:

• Human resources administration
• Finance and accounting
• Grant administration
• Risk management
• Compliance
• Information technology
• Training administration
• Legal administration
• Procurement
• Supply chain management
• Fleet administration
• Maintenance
• General office administration

That experience can subsequently be reflected on a CV when applying for entry-level jobs.

How to Apply for the Wits Health Consortium YES Programme 2026/2027

Applications must be submitted by email.

Send your application to: vacancies35@witshealth.co.za

Also Check: What to Write in an Email When Sending Your CV

The subject heading of your email must contain the reference number and job title of the position you are applying for.

For example, someone applying for a Finance Administrator position should use a subject line such as: YES002 – Finance Administrator

Do not simply write “YES Application” or “Job Application”. Following the advertised instructions precisely reduces the risk of an application being incorrectly routed.

Documents You Must Submit

According to the official advert, applicants must include:

1. A cover letter of no more than one page clearly stating which vacancy they are applying for.
2. A detailed CV.
3. Copy of ID.
4. Qualification certificate or Matric certificate.

Before sending the email, applicants should check that all required attachments are included and readable.

Match the Correct Reference Number to Your Application

This is important:

YES001 – Risk and Compliance Administrator
YES002 – Finance Administrator
YES003 – Training Administrator
YES004 – Grant Administrator
YES005 – HR Administrator
YES006 – Legal Office Administrator
YES007 – Procurement Administrator
YES008 – Fleet Administrator
YES009 – Maintenance Assistant
YES010 – Office Assistant

The advert specifically instructs candidates to quote both the reference number and job title.

Tools you may find useful:

• SETA Platform
• RDP / BNG Housing Eligibility Checker
• SASSA Grant Eligibility Checker
• SAPS / Metro / Traffic / DCS Eligibility Checker
• Youth Employment Eligibility Checker
• SA Bursary & NSFAS Eligibility Checker
• UIF Benefits Eligibility Checker and Payment Estimator

View Other Employment Opportunities here

• Government Entry Level Jobs
• Company Entry Level Jobs
• South African Teaching Posts

Need Help?

• Ask Edupstairs anything here OR
• Ask the Edupstairs Community here
• Download the New Z83 form here

Edupstairs Application Advice

Because there are several different positions under one recruitment campaign, applicants should avoid sending a generic CV without considering the vacancy they are targeting.

For example, an applicant targeting YES005 – HR Administrator should make HR-related qualifications, academic modules, computer skills, administrative abilities and any relevant practical exposure easy to identify.

Similarly, a Finance Administrator applicant should make Accounting and Finance qualifications prominent, while Procurement Administrator candidates should emphasise Supply Chain Management or Procurement studies.

Do not claim experience or skills you do not have. Instead, make genuine transferable skills visible—for example, Microsoft Office proficiency, data capturing, communication, record keeping, teamwork, organisation and attention to detail where applicable.

Applicants who are unsure how their qualification connects with different career paths can search the Edupstairs Career & Qualification Explorer. It currently brings together 1,511 OFO careers and more than 22,000 SAQA qualification records, including career-to-qualification mappings.

Closing Date: 14 September 2026

Applications for the Wits Health Consortium YES Programme 2026/2027 close on: 14 September 2026

Candidates should avoid waiting until the closing date to submit their documents.

Wits Health Consortium states that it will only respond to shortlisted candidates. Applicants who have not been contacted within two weeks after the closing date may consider their applications unsuccessful.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many Wits Health Consortium YES positions are available?

There are 23 positions across 10 job categories.

2. When do applications close?

Applications close on 14 September 2026.

3. Where are the positions based?

The advertised location is Gauteng.

4. How long is the programme?

Successful candidates will be appointed on 12-month fixed-term contracts.

5. Can I apply with only Grade 12?

Yes, for certain positions. Office Assistant requires Grade 12, while Maintenance Assistant requires Grade 12 with a trade qualification considered advantageous.

6. What is the age requirement?

Applicants must be between 18 and 29 years old.

7. Can I apply if I am currently employed?

No. The official minimum requirements state that applicants must be currently unemployed.

8. Can previous YES participants apply?

The advert states that applicants must not have participated in a YES Programme before with another organisation.

9. Where do I send my application?

Applications must be emailed to vacancies35@witshealth.co.za.

10. What should I put in the email subject?

Include the reference number and job title for the position you are applying for.

11. What documents are required?

You need a maximum one-page cover letter, detailed CV, ID copy, and your relevant qualification certificate or Matric certificate.

Our Conclusion

The Wits Health Consortium YES Programme 2026/2027 offers a useful mix of graduate and Matric-level opportunities for eligible unemployed young South Africans.

With 23 positions spread across Finance, HR, Grants, Risk and Compliance, Training, Legal, Procurement, Fleet, Maintenance and Office Administration, applicants should focus on the vacancy that most closely matches their education.

The most important details to remember are:

Closing date: 14 September 2026
Location: Gauteng
Duration: 12 months
Age: 18–29 years
Total opportunities: 23
Application email: vacancies35@witshealth.co.za
References: YES001–YES010

Check your documents carefully, use the correct reference number and job title in your email subject, and submit before the deadline.

You can also:

• View latest Internships
• View latest Learnerships
• View Latest Bursaries
• View latest Government jobs
• View latest Company Vacancies
• View latest Municipality vacancies
• Visit the Edupstairs blog for daily updates

Disclaimer:

Edupstairs is an independent education and opportunities information platform and is not Wits Health Consortium or the YES Programme. Applicants should never pay anyone to apply for a legitimate employment opportunity. Information in this article is based primarily on the supplied Wits Health Consortium recruitment advertisement, with additional Edupstairs resources provided to help applicants understand career and qualification pathways.

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