The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) invites applications for several 2-year internship opportunities aimed at unemployed graduates seeking valuable workplace experience. These internships provide an excellent opportunity for young South Africans to gain practical skills while contributing to an organization responsible for maintaining the quality and credibility of qualifications within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
Graduates who have never participated in an internship programme are encouraged to apply before the closing date. Successful applicants will receive a fixed annual stipend depending on the internship position.
Available Positions
- Internship: Authentication Services (2 Years)
- Internship: Supply Chain Management (2 Years)
- Internship: Executive Assistant (2 Years)
- Internship: Legal and Compliance (2 Years)
About SAQA
SAQA operates under a legal mandate to oversee the continued development and implementation of the National Qualifications Framework. The organisation’s core function is to ensure that qualifications issued across South Africa meet consistent quality standards, allowing learners to reach their full potential while contributing meaningfully to the country’s social and economic progress. As a body that shapes education policy and qualification recognition nationwide, SAQA offers interns a rare vantage point into how national education standards are built and maintained.
Available Internship Positions
1. Internship: Authentication Services (2 Years)
- Salary package: R72,000 to R90,000 per annum (all inclusive)
- Benefits: Not applicable
- Contract type: Internship
- Requirements: A diploma or degree in Information Management, Education, or Administration
- Duties: No prior experience required
- Closing date: 29 July 2026
This role sits within SAQA’s Authentication Services division, a function closely tied to verifying and validating qualifications submitted for recognition. Graduates with a background in information management, education, or administration are well suited to this position, as the role likely involves handling documentation, records verification, and administrative processes tied to qualification checks.
2. Internship: Supply Chain Management (2 Years)
- Salary package: R72,000 per annum (all inclusive)
- Benefits: Not applicable
- Contract type: Internship
- Requirements: A diploma in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Public Administration, or Finance
- Duties: No prior experience required
- Closing date: 29 July 2026
This internship offers exposure to procurement, logistics, and resource management processes within a public entity. Candidates holding diplomas in supply chain management, logistics, public administration, or finance stand a strong chance of building relevant, transferable skills in this position, particularly given how central supply chain functions are to the smooth operation of any government body.
3. Internship: Executive Assistant (2 Years)
- Salary package: R90,000 per annum (all inclusive)
- Benefits: Not applicable
- Contract type: Internship
- Requirements: A degree in Public Management, Education, or Administration
- Duties: No prior experience required
- Closing date: 29 July 2026
Graduates seeking exposure to executive-level operations and organisational coordination may find this role particularly valuable. An Executive Assistant internship typically involves supporting senior staff with scheduling, correspondence, meeting preparation, and general office coordination, offering a front-row seat to how a national authority manages its day-to-day executive functions.
4. Internship: Legal and Compliance (2 Years)
- Salary package: R102,000 per annum (all inclusive)
- Benefits: Not applicable
- Contract type: Internship
- Requirements: A degree in Law or an LLB
- Duties: No prior experience required
- Closing date: 29 July 2026
Carrying the highest stipend among the four positions, the Legal and Compliance internship is aimed at LLB graduates or those holding a law degree. This placement offers exposure to regulatory compliance, statutory interpretation, and legal support functions within a body that operates under strict legislative mandates, making it an appealing option for graduates hoping to build a career in public sector legal work.
Who Can Apply
All four internships share the same baseline eligibility criteria. Applicants must meet the following conditions to be considered:
- Applicants must be South African graduates who are currently unemployed
- Applicants must not have previously participated in any internship programme
- Applicants must hold the specific diploma or degree qualification listed under each respective position
- Applicants must be available to commit to a two-year internship contract
Given that these positions are structured as internships rather than permanent roles, no prior work experience is required for any of the four listings. This makes the programme especially accessible to recent graduates who have completed their studies but have not yet had the chance to gain formal workplace exposure.
Why This Programme Matters
South Africa’s youth unemployment rate remains one of the most persistent economic challenges facing the country, and graduate unemployment in particular continues to affect thousands of qualified young people each year. Programmes like SAQA’s internship initiative directly address this gap by offering structured, paid workplace experience to graduates who might otherwise struggle to break into the job market due to a lack of practical experience.
Beyond the financial stipend, which ranges from R72,000 to R102,000 per annum depending on the role, these internships offer something arguably more valuable in the long run: verifiable, government-sector work experience. For many young professionals, a two-year internship at a statutory body like SAQA can serve as a significant credibility boost on a CV, opening doors to permanent employment either within SAQA itself or in comparable public and private sector roles afterward.
Only suitably qualified candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the relevant internship should apply. Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for further recruitment processes. If no communication is received after the recruitment process has been completed, the application should be regarded as unsuccessful.
These internship opportunities provide an excellent starting point for graduates looking to gain professional experience within South Africa’s education and qualifications sector. With opportunities available in Authentication Services, Supply Chain Management, Executive Assistant, and Legal & Compliance, graduates from various academic backgrounds can begin building valuable workplace skills while contributing to the objectives of SAQA and the National Qualifications Framework.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the official SAQA online recruitment portal.
Apply here: https://hr.saqa.co.za/erecruitment/careers.php
Applicants should ensure that all required documents are submitted and that the information provided is complete and accurate before final submission.