The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) invites unemployed graduates to apply for the Graduate Development Programme 2026/2027, providing an opportunity to gain practical workplace experience within the local government sector.
The programme is based in different provinces and clusters across South Africa and offers a monthly stipend of R6,500. The programme runs for 12 months and is designed to provide graduates with structured development, workplace exposure, mentoring, learning opportunities and experience related to their fields of study.
A wide range of disciplines are included, covering areas such as public administration, human resources, finance, environmental management, town and regional planning, engineering, communications, law, economic development, information technology, disaster management and other related fields.
SALGA Graduate Development Programme 2026/2027 Details
Programme: Graduate Development Programme 2026/2027
Duration: 12 months
Stipend: R6,500 per month
Locations: Various provinces and national clusters
Closing Date: 14 September 2026
The programme is aimed at unemployed graduates who have completed recognised qualifications relevant to the advertised opportunities. Applicants must be South African citizens and must not have previously participated in a similar graduate development programme.
What the Graduate Development Programme Offers
The programme is structured to help graduates transition from academic study into the workplace. Participants will receive practical workplace exposure and structured professional development within SALGA.
Graduates may support discipline programmes and projects through activities such as research, analysis, administration and project-related work. The programme allows participants to apply academic knowledge to practical workplace challenges.
The programme also provides exposure to the local government sector, stakeholder engagements, mentoring and learning opportunities. These experiences are intended to help graduates develop technical, professional and workplace competencies while improving future employability.
No: 1
Location: Eastern Cape
Discipline: Municipal Sustainability
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma in Town and Regional Planning (NQF 7 or 8); Bachelor’s Degree in Development Planning / Environmental Management (NQF 7 or 8)
No: 2
Location: Eastern Cape
Discipline: Inclusive Communities
Qualifications Required: National Diploma (NQF 6) or Bachelor’s Degree (NQF 7) in Public Administration / Public Management / Development Studies / Social Work / Social Sciences
No: 3
Location: Eastern Cape
Discipline: Economic Growth and Investment
Qualifications Required: Postgraduate Diploma in Local Economic Development
No: 4
Location: Free State
Discipline: HR LR and Dispute Resolution
Qualifications Required: National Diploma (NQF 6) or Bachelor’s Degree (NQF 7) in Human Resource Management
No: 5
Location: Free State
Discipline: Inclusive Communities
Qualifications Required: National Diploma (NQF 6) or Bachelor’s Degree (NQF 7) in Public Administration / Public Management / Development Studies
No: 6
Location: Free State
Discipline: Communication And Marketing
Qualifications Required: National Diploma (NQF 6) or Bachelor’s Degree (NQF 7) in Marketing / Communication / Media Studies
No: 7
Location: Free State
Discipline: Municipal Sustainability
Qualifications Required: National Diploma / BTech / B Degree / Honours Degree in Environmental Management / Science or related field; National Diploma/BTech/B Degree/Honours qualification in Disaster Management, Public Safety, Fire Technology, Environmental Studies
No: 8
Location: Gauteng
Discipline: Economic Development
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Local Economic Development, Development Studies, or Postgraduate studies in Economic Development or Planning
No: 9
Location: Gauteng
Discipline: Trading Services
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Water and Sanitation Science, Hydrology, Environmental Management, Civil Engineering, or Chemical Engineering
No: 10
Location: Gauteng
Discipline: Financial Resilience
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma (NQF Level 6/7) in Economics, Accounting, Finance, Internal Auditing, or Risk Management
No: 11
Location: Gauteng
Discipline: Built Environment And Planning
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma in Town and Regional Planning (NQF 7 or 8)
No: 12
Location: Gauteng
Discipline: Municipal Sustainability
Qualifications Required: National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Natural Sciences, or Geography; National Diploma or Degree in Disaster Management, Public Administration, or Development Studies; National Diploma or Degree in Waste Management, Environmental Science, Environmental Health, or Chemical Engineering
No: 13
Location: KwaZulu-Natal
Discipline: LR and Dispute Resolution
Qualifications Required: National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree at NQF Level 6/7/8 in Labour Relations, Labour Law, Human Resource Management, Law (LLB), or Public Administration
No: 14
Location: KwaZulu-Natal
Discipline: Economic Growth And Investment
Qualifications Required: Degree or Diploma (NQF Level 6/7) in Development Studies, Public Administration, Local Economic Development (LED), Economics, Social Sciences
No: 15
Location: KwaZulu-Natal
Discipline: Financial Resilience
Qualifications Required: Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Management, Accounting, Public Administration, or Local Government Finance / Municipal Finance
No: 16
Location: KwaZulu-Natal
Discipline: Trading Services
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree (NQF 7) or National Diploma (NQF 6) in Civil Engineering, Water Care, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Science, Development Studies, Public Administration; specialised focus on water, sanitation, energy, or infrastructure management
No: 17
Location: KwaZulu-Natal
Discipline: Municipal Sustainability
Qualifications Required: National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree (NQF Level 6/7) in Disaster Management, Disaster Risk Science, Emergency Management; Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma (NQF Level 7) in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering
No: 18
Location: Limpopo
Discipline: Trading Services
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/National Diploma in Engineering (Civil/Electrical), Environmental Science, Water Management, or Public Administration
No: 19
Location: Limpopo
Discipline: Inclusive Communities
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/National Diploma in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Community Development, or Public Policy
No: 20
Location: Limpopo
Discipline: Municipal Sustainability
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/National Diploma in Financial Management, Accounting, Auditing, Public Governance, or Environmental Management
No: 21
Location: Limpopo
Discipline: Built Environment and Planning
Qualifications Required: Degree/Diploma in Town & Regional Planning, Spatial Planning, Development Studies, or Built Environment
No: 22
Location: Limpopo
Discipline: Economic Growth And Investment
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/National Diploma in Local Economic Development (LED), Economics, Development Studies, or Business Management
No: 23
Location: Mpumalanga
Discipline: Municipal Sustainability
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/National Diploma in Disaster Management, Public Administration, or Environmental Management
No: 24
Location: Mpumalanga
Discipline: HR and Capacity Building
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma at NQF Level 6/7 in Human Resource Management, Public Management, or Organizational Development
No: 25
Location: Mpumalanga
Discipline: Finance And Corporate Services
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/National Diploma in Information Technology, Computer Systems Engineering
No: 26
Location: Mpumalanga
Discipline: IGR and Strategic Relations
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/National Diploma in Public Administration, Public Management, Political Science, Development Studies
No: 27
Location: Mpumalanga
Discipline: Economic Development & Investment
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/National Diploma in Local Economic Development, Economics, Development Studies, Business Management, or Town Planning
No: 28
Location: National – Human Capital & Corporate Services
Discipline: Events Logistics
Qualifications Required: Degree/Diploma in Hospitality Management, Event Management, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations
No: 29
Location: National – Human Capital & Corporate Services
Discipline: HR Operations
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma in Human Resource Management
No: 30
Location: National – Infrastructure Delivery & Spatial
Discipline: Community Safety And Asset Protection
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/National Diploma in Public Administration, Public Management, Social Science, Community Development, Communication, or Local Government Management
No: 31
Location: National – Infrastructure Delivery & Spatial
Discipline: Waste Management
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma (NQF Level 6/7) in Environmental Science/Management, Environmental Health, Geography and Environmental Studies, Natural Resource Management, Civil/Chemical Engineering, Microbiology, Sustainability
No: 32
Location: National – Infrastructure Delivery & Spatial
Discipline: Community Development
Qualifications Required: National Diploma (NQF Level 6) or Bachelor’s Degree (NQF Level 7) in Social Sciences, Community Development, Development Studies, Public Administration
No: 33
Location: National – Infrastructure Delivery & Spatial
Discipline: Municipal Health
Qualifications Required: National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Health (NQF Level 6/7)
No: 34
Location: National – Intergovernmental Relations & External Legal Advisory Services
Discipline: Municipal Resilience
Qualifications Required: Bachelor of Laws/LLB
No: 35
Location: National – Intergovernmental Relations & Municipal Resilience
Discipline: Municipal Human Capital Capabilities
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration
No: 36
Location: National – Intergovernmental Relations & Municipal Resilience
Discipline: Inclusive Governance and Councillor Welfare
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree (NQF Level 7) or National Diploma (NQF Level 6) in Public Administration/Management, Political Science or International Relations, Development Studies, Local Government Law/Social Sciences
No: 37
Location: National – Intergovernmental Relations & Municipal Resilience
Discipline: Performance Management
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/National Diploma in Business Administration, Public Administration, Project Management
No: 38
Location: National – Intergovernmental Relations & Municipal Resilience
Discipline: Parliamentary Affairs
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma (NQF Level 6/7) in Public Administration, Public Management, Political Science, Local Government Management, or Law
No: 39
Location: National – Office of the CEO
Discipline: Risk Management
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Risk Management or Internal Auditing
No: 40
Location: National – Office of the CEO
Discipline: Assurance Services
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma (NQF Level 7) in Internal Auditing, Accounting, Risk Management, or Finance
No: 41
Location: National – Office of the CEO
Discipline: Spokesperson
Qualifications Required: Diploma or Advanced Certificate in Multimedia, Public Relations, Graphic Design; Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma in Media Studies, Visual Communication
No: 42
Location: National – Office of the CEO
Discipline: Information Solutions
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s or Postgraduate Degree in Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Mathematics, Information Management Sciences
No: 43
Location: National – Office of the CEO
Discipline: International And Stakeholder Relations
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations, Public Administration, Development Studies, Business Administration
No: 44
Location: National – Office of the CEO
Discipline: Municipal Learning And Development
Qualifications Required: National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management/Human Resource Development
No: 45
Location: North West
Discipline: Built Environment and Planning
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/BTech in Town and Regional Planning, Development Planning, Public Management/Administration, Built Environment, Construction Management, or Social Sciences
No: 46
Location: North West
Discipline: Municipal Sustainability
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree or BTech in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Chemical Engineering, or Town & Regional Planning
No: 47
Location: North West
Discipline: HR LR and Dispute Resolution
Qualifications Required: National Diploma/Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management/Human Resource Development
No: 48
Location: North West
Discipline: Financial Resilience
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma (NQF Level 6/7) majoring in Accounting, Financial Management, Public Finance, or Taxation
No: 49
Location: North West
Discipline: Trading Services
Qualifications Required: National Diploma/Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Sciences (Water Science, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry or Microbiology), Engineering (Electrical and Civil Engineering)
No: 50
Location: Northern Cape
Discipline: Trading Services
Qualifications Required: National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Energy and Electricity; National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering (Water and Sanitation)
No: 51
Location: Northern Cape
Discipline: HR Skills Development And Performance Management
Qualifications Required: National Diploma/Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management/Human Resource Development or Industrial Psychology
No: 52
Location: Northern Cape
Discipline: Municipal Sustainability
Qualifications Required: National Diploma/Bachelor’s Degree in Disaster Management or Environmental Management
No: 53
Location: Northern Cape
Discipline: Economic And Regional Development
Qualifications Required: National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Economics/Development Economics/Local Economic Development (LED), Development Studies, Business Management/Administration, Public Administration/Governance, Town/Regional Planning
No: 54
Location: Western Cape
Discipline: HR LR and Dispute Resolution
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Public Management, Labour Relations or Law
No: 55
Location: Western Cape
Discipline: Municipal Sustainability
Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree/National Diploma in Disaster Management, Public Administration (with Disaster Management as a Major), Environmental Management, or Geography
No: 56
Location: Western Cape
Discipline: Financial Resilience
Qualifications Required: National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Public Administration, Economics or Municipal Finance
No: 57
Location: Western Cape
Discipline: Economic Growth And Investment
Qualifications Required: National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Business Management, Public Administration, Development Studies, or Town and Regional Planning
No: 58
Location: Western Cape
Discipline: Trading Services
Qualifications Required: National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Energy and Electricity; National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering (Water and Sanitation)
How to Apply
Suitably qualified and experienced candidates must apply using the application link provided in the advert:
Application Link:
https://cvspaces.co.za/CvSpacesHome/JobDetailsIndex/1706?jobTitle=graduate
Applicants should carefully review the qualification requirements before applying and ensure that the qualification matches the selected opportunity.
An important consideration is the location of the opportunity. SALGA states that it will not incur relocation costs if an applicant chooses to apply outside their residential area.
Closing Date
Applications close on 14 September 2026.
Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates. SALGA also reserves the right not to proceed with an appointment for any vacant position. Appointments will be made in line with the SALGA Employment Equity Plan.
Unemployed South African graduates with relevant recognised qualifications should review the available disciplines carefully and submit applications before the closing date. The programme provides an opportunity to gain practical experience, develop professional skills and gain exposure to the local government sector through a structured 12-month graduate development programme.