merSETA Graduate Internships 2026: Paid Opportunities for Unemployed Youth
Are you a recent graduate looking for real-world experience in South Africa? The merSETA Graduate Internships 2026 offer a great chance to build skills in key industries. This 24-month program targets unemployed youth and provides paid training at the head office in Parktown, Johannesburg, and regional offices across the country.
What Is the merSETA Internship Programme?
merSETA is a public entity that focuses on skills development in manufacturing, engineering, automotive, plastics, and related fields. The internship gives graduates hands-on workplace experience to prepare them for careers. It lasts 24 months and aims to help young people aged 18 to 35 who have no prior internship experience.
Key Details of the Programme
The program runs from head office in Parktown and regional offices nationwide. It is open to South African citizens who are unemployed. Graduates must hold a qualification like a National Diploma, Bachelor’s degree, BTech, Honours, or Postgraduate at NQF Level 6 or higher.
Monthly Stipend Amounts
Interns receive a stipend based on their qualification level:
- National Diploma (NQF 6): R10,000 per month
- Bachelor’s or BTech (NQF 7): R11,000 per month
- Honours or Postgraduate (NQF 8+): R12,000 per month
This support helps cover basic needs while gaining experience.
Available Fields at Head Office (Parktown, Johannesburg)
Several positions are open in various departments:
- Learning Programmes & QA (4 posts)
- Grants Management (4 posts)
- Legal & Compliance (1 post)
- Human Resources (2 posts)
- Finance (3 posts)
- Assets Management (2 posts)
- Travel & Tourism (1 post)
- Marketing & Communications (2 posts)
- Project Management (1 post)
- Monitoring & Reporting (1 post)
- Sector Skills Planning & Research (3 posts)
- Quality Management (1 post)
- ICT (Networks, Development, Library/Information) (3 posts)
- Supply Chain Management (2 posts)
- Company Secretariat (2 posts)
Positions in Regional Offices
Regional offices need Client Services interns (16 posts total, 2 per region). Regions include Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State, and Northern Cape.
Minimum Requirements to Apply
To qualify, you must:
- Be a South African citizen
- Be between 18 and 35 years old
- Be currently unemployed
- Have no previous internship experience
- Hold a relevant National Diploma, Degree, or Honours qualification
Required Fields of Study
Matching qualifications include:
- Business Administration or Management
- Finance or Accounting
- Human Resources or Labour Relations
- Law or Legal Studies
- Marketing, Communications, or Journalism
- Project Management
- ICT, Computer Science, or Information Science
- Supply Chain or Logistics
- Social Sciences or Skills Development
- Engineering or Quality Systems
How to Apply for merSETA Graduate Internships 2026
Applications close on 20 April 2026. Submit via:
- Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
- WhatsApp: 033 880 0263
- Online: PNet (search Rapid Recruiting) or LinkedIn (search Rapid Recruiting listing)
Include your CV, certified ID, and qualification copies.
Important Notes
This is a fixed-term 24-month internship. If you hear nothing within two weeks after closing, your application did not succeed. merSETA follows Employment Equity and welcomes applications from people with disabilities.
Why Join This Internship?
You gain valuable experience in skills development programs. The stipend provides financial support, and it opens doors to jobs in public or private sectors. Many past interns move on to full careers in these fields.
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