The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development invites applications for the 2026/2027 Internship Programme, providing unemployed graduates with an opportunity to gain valuable workplace experience in the public sector.
The internship programme is aimed at unemployed graduates who have completed relevant tertiary qualifications and are looking for practical workplace exposure. Successful candidates will be appointed on a 24-month internship contract and will receive a monthly stipend of R8,172.
Position Details
Position: Internship Programme 2026/2027
Duration: 24 months
Stipend: R8,172 per month
Location: KwaZulu-Natal
Closing Date: 9 October 2026
The programme offers opportunities in several fields, including Financial Management, Supply Chain Management, Public Management, Human Resource Management, Personal Assistant, Record Management, Information Communication Technology, Child and Youth Care, Community Development and Communications.
A total of 90 internship opportunities are available across the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development, including positions at the department’s Head Office in Pietermaritzburg and various district offices.
The closing date for applications is 9 October 2026.
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development Internship Programme
The Department of Social Development is contributing towards skills development initiatives for young people in KwaZulu-Natal by providing unemployed graduates with opportunities to obtain practical workplace experience.
The internship initiative supports government development objectives, including the National Development Plan Vision 2030, Provincial Growth and Development Strategy and other government programmes aimed at improving skills development and employment opportunities.
The internship programme will run for 24 months. Interns will gain exposure to the working environment within the provincial government and will be placed in different business units according to their qualifications and the available posts.
Successful applicants will receive a monthly stipend of R8,172 for the duration of the internship, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
Applicants must carefully select the business unit and placement area for which they qualify before submitting an application.
Who Can Apply?
The internship programme is specifically intended for unemployed graduates residing in KwaZulu-Natal.
Applicants must have completed a relevant tertiary qualification and must have graduated. The minimum qualification requirement is a three-year Bachelor’s Degree, National Diploma or Advanced Diploma from a recognised university, university of technology or college.
Applicants must also meet the following requirements:
- Must be unemployed graduates residing in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Must have completed a relevant tertiary qualification.
- Must hold a minimum three-year Bachelor’s Degree, National Diploma or Advanced Diploma.
- The qualification must be from a recognised tertiary institution.
- Must not have previously participated in an internship programme within National, Provincial or Local Government.
- Must be computer literate.
- Must be willing to undergo the department’s selection process.
- Must be prepared to undergo a technical assessment and structured interview.
- Must be willing to relocate to the selected office at their own cost.
Graduates who have previously benefited from a government internship programme are not eligible for this opportunity.
Applicants should also ensure that the qualification and major listed on the academic record correspond with the requirements of the internship position being selected.
Available Internship Opportunities
1. Financial Management Internships
Reference Number: FM/2026/27
Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Finance / Accounting
Financial Management internship opportunities are available at the following offices:
- Head Office, Pietermaritzburg – 2 posts
- Ugu – 1 post
- Umgungundlovu – 2 posts
- Harry Gwala – 1 post
- Ethekwini North – 2 posts
- Ethekwini South – No posts
- Ilembe – 1 post
- Zululand – 2 posts
- Umkhanyakude – No posts
- King Cetshwayo – No posts
- Umzinyathi – No posts
- Uthukela – 1 post
- Amajuba – 1 post
Applicants should quote FM/2026/27 when applying for Financial Management.
2. Supply Chain Management Internships
Reference Number: SCM/2026/27
Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma majoring in Supply Chain Management
Available placements include:
- Umgungundlovu – 1 post
- Ethekwini North – 1 post
- Ethekwini South – 1 post
- Zululand – 1 post
- King Cetshwayo – 1 post
- Uthukela – 1 post
There are no posts listed for the other districts under this business unit.
Applicants must quote SCM/2026/27.
3. Public Management Internships
Reference Number: PM02/2026/27
Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Public Management / Public Administration
Available placements are:
- Head Office, Pietermaritzburg – 2 posts
- Harry Gwala – 1 post
- Ethekwini North – 1 post
- Ethekwini South – 1 post
- Ilembe – 1 post
- Umkhanyakude – 1 post
- Uthukela – 1 post
- Amajuba – 1 post
Applicants interested in Public Management must quote PM02/2026/27.
4. Human Resource Management Internships
Reference Number: HRM/2026/27
Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Human Resource Management / Development
Human Resource Management opportunities are available in:
- Ugu – 1 post
- Umgungundlovu – 1 post
- Harry Gwala – 1 post
- Ethekwini North – 1 post
- Ethekwini South – 1 post
- Ilembe – 1 post
- Zululand – 1 post
- Umkhanyakude – 1 post
- King Cetshwayo – 1 post
- Umzinyathi – 1 post
- Uthukela – 1 post
- Amajuba – 1 post
Applicants must quote HRM/2026/27.
5. Personal Assistant Internships
Reference Number: MA/2026/27
Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Management Assistant, Office Management and Technology or Administrative Management
Two Personal Assistant internship posts are available at the Head Office in Pietermaritzburg.
No posts are listed for the district offices under this business unit.
Applicants must quote MA/2026/27.
6. Record Management Internships
Reference Number: RM/2026/27
Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Archives and Records Management
Two opportunities are available:
- Head Office, Pietermaritzburg – 1 post
- Ilembe – 1 post
Applicants must quote RM/2026/27.
7. Information Communication Technology Internships
Reference Number: ICT/2026/27
Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Information Technology, Information Communication, Computer Science or Information Systems in Information Technology
ICT internship opportunities are available across the province:
- Head Office, Pietermaritzburg – 2 posts
- Ugu – 1 post
- Umgungundlovu – 1 post
- Harry Gwala – 1 post
- Ethekwini North – 1 post
- Ethekwini South – 1 post
- Ilembe – 1 post
- Zululand – 1 post
- Umkhanyakude – 1 post
- King Cetshwayo – 1 post
- Umzinyathi – 1 post
- Uthukela – 1 post
- Amajuba – 1 post
Applicants must quote ICT/2026/27.
8. Child and Youth Care Internships
Reference Number: CYC/2026/27
Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Child and Youth Care
Available opportunities include:
- Umgungundlovu – 2 posts
- Ethekwini North – 3 posts
- Ethekwini South – 3 posts
- King Cetshwayo – 2 posts
- Umzinyathi – 2 posts
- Amajuba – 2 posts
Applicants must quote CYC/2026/27.
9. Community Development Internships
Reference Number: CDP/2026/27
Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Community Development / Developmental Studies
Available opportunities include:
- Ugu – 1 post
- Umgungundlovu – 1 post
- Harry Gwala – 1 post
- Ethekwini North – 2 posts
- Ethekwini South – 2 posts
- Ilembe – 2 posts
- Zululand – 1 post
- Umkhanyakude – 1 post
- King Cetshwayo – 2 posts
- Uthukela – 1 post
- Amajuba – 1 post
Applicants must quote CDP/2026/27.
10. Communications Internships
Reference Number: COM/2026/27
Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Videography, Communication Science, Marketing or Graphic Design
Three Communications internship posts are available at the Head Office in Pietermaritzburg.
Applicants must quote COM/2026/27.
Total Number of Internship Posts
The programme offers a total of 90 internship opportunities across the province.
The distribution of posts is as follows:
| District / Office | Total Posts |
|---|---|
| Head Office, Pietermaritzburg | 12 |
| Ugu | 4 |
| Umgungundlovu | 8 |
| Harry Gwala | 5 |
| Ethekwini North | 11 |
| Ethekwini South | 9 |
| Ilembe | 7 |
| Zululand | 6 |
| Umkhanyakude | 4 |
| King Cetshwayo | 7 |
| Umzinyathi | 4 |
| Uthukela | 6 |
| Amajuba | 7 |
Applicants should carefully consider the available placement areas before applying. The department requires applicants to indicate the specific area of placement between the Head Office in Pietermaritzburg and the relevant district office.
Relocation, where required, will be at the successful applicant’s own cost.
Documents Required
Applications must be submitted using a fully completed Z83 form.
The application must include the required supporting documentation, including:
- Completed Z83 application form.
- Detailed and updated CV.
- Contact telephone number.
- Physical address.
- Postal address.
- Copy of South African ID.
- Academic records showing the relevant major.
- Copies of relevant qualifications.
- Proof of residence.
- Affidavit confirming that the applicant has never benefited from an internship programme before.
Applicants should make sure that all required documents are attached before submitting the application.
The academic record is particularly important because the department requires applicants to have qualifications relevant to the selected business unit. Applicants should therefore ensure that the qualification and major stated in the application correspond with the internship requirements.
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted through the Provincial e-Recruitment platform at: www.eservices.gov.za
Applicants can also submit applications by post to:
The Head of Department
Department of Social Development
Private Bag X 9144
Pietermaritzburg
3200
Hand-delivered applications can be submitted at: 174 Mayors Walk, Pietermaritzburg
The relevant business unit, reference number and preferred placement area must be clearly stated in the application.
For example, an applicant applying for Public Management should clearly indicate Public Management – PM02/2026/27 and specify the preferred placement area.
Selection Process
Shortlisted applicants may be required to participate in a selection process that includes a technical assessment and structured interview.
Appointment is subject to satisfactory outcomes from the department’s personal suitability checks. These checks may include:
- Security clearance.
- Citizenship verification.
- Qualification verification.
- Criminal record checks.
Successful candidates will also be required to sign an employment contract and will be subject to performance assessment during the internship period.
Applicants should ensure that all information provided in the application is accurate and can be verified.
Important Information for Applicants
The department will not consider late or faxed applications.
Failure to follow the application instructions may result in disqualification. Applicants should therefore read the requirements carefully and ensure that all compulsory documents are included.
Due to the expected volume of applications, communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates. Applicants who have not been contacted within three months after the closing date should consider their applications unsuccessful.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development is committed to equal opportunities and affirmative action. The department intends to promote employment equity through the achievement of targets contained in its Employment Equity Plan.
Applicants are required to provide information relating to race, gender and disability status to facilitate the employment equity process.
Internship Programme Closing Date
The closing date for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development Internship Programme 2026/2027 is: 9 October 2026
Applications should be submitted before the closing date. Applicants should not wait until the final day to prepare and submit their documents, particularly where applications are being submitted by post or require several supporting documents.
Enquiries
For enquiries relating to the internship programme, applicants can contact:
Mr CM Ndlovu
Human Resource Utilization and Development
Telephone: 033-264 2196 / 2055 / 2129
Final Notes
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development Internship Programme provides unemployed graduates with an opportunity to gain practical experience within the public sector over a 24-month period.
With 90 positions available, opportunities are offered across a range of academic disciplines, including finance, accounting, supply chain management, public administration, human resources, administration, records management, information technology, child and youth care, community development and communications.
Applicants must meet the qualification requirements, reside in KwaZulu-Natal, have not previously benefited from a government internship programme and be willing to comply with the department’s selection and verification processes.
A completed Z83 form, detailed CV, academic records, qualification documents, proof of residence and the required affidavit must be included with the application.
Closing Date: 9 October 2026
Apply through the Provincial e-Recruitment platform:
www.eservices.gov.za