Government Internships 2026/2027: 87 Paid Posts Open Now

Five government departments and agencies are recruiting 87 paid graduate interns right now, and every post pays R8 174.75 a month. The adverts appeared in DPSA Public Service Vacancy Circulars 36 and 37 of 2026 and close between 23 October and 6 November 2026. To qualify you must be an unemployed South African graduate (National Diploma or degree in the listed field) who has never done a public service internship before. You apply with a new Z83 form and a detailed CV.

By the Jobsiz Editorial Team · Updated 22 October 2026 · Checked against the official DPSA circulars

Quick summary: which government internships are open?

• Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure: 60 posts, head office and all five districts. Closes 6 November 2026 at 16:30.

• Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA): 14 posts, Centurion. Closes 2 November 2026.

• Civilian Secretariat for Police Service (CSPS): 7 posts, Pretoria. Closes 30 October 2026.

• National Department of Health: 5 posts, Pretoria. Closes 26 October 2026.

• Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture: 1 post, Joe Gqabi District (Maletswai). Closes 23 October 2026.

All five programmes pay the same public service graduate stipend of R8 174.75 per month, which works out to roughly R98 097 a year before any deductions. Most contracts run for 24 months.

Who can apply for a public service internship?

The rules are almost identical across departments because they follow the DPSA directive on developmental programmes. You will generally need to:

• Be a South African citizen who is currently unemployed.

• Hold a completed National Diploma (NQF 6) or degree (NQF 7) in the exact field listed for the post. MISA's advert, for example, asks for an NQF 6 diploma or NQF 7 degree, not an N6 certificate.

• Never have taken part in a public service internship before. Each department repeats this. A government internship is a once-off opportunity, so anyone who has already done one will not be considered.

• Have your qualification from an accredited institution. If you studied abroad, the qualification must be evaluated by SAQA.

None of these adverts asks for work experience. That is the point of an internship.

Limpopo Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure: 60 internships (closes 6 November)

This is the biggest intake on the list. The Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure is placing graduates at head office in Polokwane and in the Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg districts. The contract runs from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029.

• Properties and Facilities (20 posts): Real Estate, Property Science, Property Studies or Property Management, Property Law, LLB, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Horticulture or Landscaping (the fields differ by district).

• Roads Maintenance (20 posts): B.Eng in Civil Engineering at head office. In the districts, a National Diploma or degree in Civil or Mechanical Engineering; Waterberg also accepts Construction Management or Environmental Management.

• Infrastructure Management (20 posts): B.Eng in Electrical Engineering, Construction Management or Architectural Studies at head office. In the districts, fields include Civil or Electrical Engineering, Building Science, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, depending on the district.

How to apply: Apply on the Limpopo e-Recruitment system at erecruitment.limpopo.gov.za with a new Z83 and a recent CV. If you apply online, the department also wants copies of your qualifications, ID and a valid driver's licence attached. You can also post or hand-deliver to the head office in Polokwane or to the district office for the post you want. Addresses and reference numbers (S.5/8/1/…) are in Annexure W of Circular 36.

MISA graduate internship 2026–2028: 14 posts (closes 2 November)

MISA supports municipalities with infrastructure planning and delivery. All 14 interns will be based at MISA Head Office in Centurion. Each stream has its own reference number and email address:

• Human Resource Management and Development (5): MISA/HRM&D/01. HR Management or Development. Email misa38@tttrecruitment.co.za.

• IGR and ESSS (1): MISA/IGR&ESSS/02. Public Administration, Public Management, Governance Studies or Business Administration. Email misa39@tttrecruitment.co.za.

• Capacity Building (3): MISA/CB/03. HR Management or Development, or Public Management specialising in Local Government. Email misa40@tttrecruitment.co.za.

• Infrastructure Assessment and Analysis (2): MISA/IAA/04. Public Administration, Office Administration or Management. Email misa41@tttrecruitment.co.za.

• Internal Audit (2): MISA/IA/05. Internal Auditing, BCom or Accounting Sciences. Email misa42@tttrecruitment.co.za.

• Risk Management (1): MISA/RM/06. Risk Management. Email misa43@tttrecruitment.co.za.

The recruitment is handled by To The T Recruitment (010 102 3607). Send a signed new Z83, a recent CV and contactable referees (with phone numbers and email addresses), and put the reference number in your subject line.

Civilian Secretariat for Police Service: 7 posts (closes 30 October)

The CSPS 2026/28 internship is a non-renewable 24-month contract in Pretoria. It accepts a National Diploma, Bachelor's degree or Honours degree in the following fields:

• Civilian Oversight, Monitoring and Evaluation (1): Forensic Investigation. Ref CSP/22/2026.

• Internal Communication (1): Graphic Design. Ref CSP/23/2026.

• Office of the Secretary (2): Public Administration. Ref CSP/24/2026.

• Corporate Services (2): Information Technology or Computer Science. Ref CSP/25/2026.

• Internal Audit (1): Internal Auditing. Ref CSP/26/2026.

How to apply: Post your application to Private Bag X922, Pretoria, 0001, or hand-deliver it to the reception desk at Fedsure Building, 2nd floor, 258 Lilian Ngoyi Street, Pretoria. Each post also lists an email address for applications in Annexure B of Circular 37. If you have not heard back within a month of the closing date, the department says to take it that your application was unsuccessful.

National Department of Health: 5 posts (closes 26 October)

The Department of Health wants five interns for its Trauma, Violence and EMS chief directorate in Pretoria (Ref NDOH 81/2026). You need a National Diploma or degree in Microbiology or Biotechnology. The work includes supporting the import and export permit programme and audits of microbiology laboratories. Email your application as a single PDF to recruitment@health.gov.za with the reference number in the subject line, or deliver it to the brown application box at the Dr AB Xuma Building, 1112 Voortrekker Road, Pretoria.

Eastern Cape DSRAC: 1 post (closes 23 October)

The Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture has re-advertised one Cultural Affairs (Arts and Culture) intern post in the Joe Gqabi District, Maletswai (Ref DSRAC: 37/09/2026). It asks for a three-year degree or National Diploma in arts and culture, arts management, fine arts or performing arts, or a related BA. Applications go through the provincial e-recruitment system at erecruitment.ecotp.gov.za, which closes at 23:59 on the closing date.

How to apply for a government internship: step by step

1. Match your qualification to the post. Shortlisting is strict. If the advert says Civil Engineering and your diploma says something else, you will be screened out.

2. Download the new Z83 form from the DPSA website. Applications on the old (pre-2021) Z83 are rejected. Fill in every section and sign it.

3. Update your CV. List your qualification, any vacation work or volunteering, your computer skills, and at least two referees with working phone numbers.

4. Send one application per post. Quote the exact reference number on the Z83 and in your email subject line.

5. Do not attach certified copies unless the advert asks. Most of these departments ask for them only from shortlisted candidates. Limpopo's online applications are the exception.

6. Apply early. Submit at least two days before the closing date. E-recruitment systems and inboxes get busy on the last day, and late applications are not accepted.

7. Keep proof. Save your sent email or a screenshot of your e-recruitment submission.

Avoid internship scams

Government departments do not charge an application fee, and they do not ask for money to "secure" a post. Only use the email addresses and portals printed in the official DPSA circular. Be careful with WhatsApp messages and social media pages that promise placement. Our guide to the SAPS recruitment WhatsApp scam shows how these scams usually work.

Frequently asked questions

How much do government interns earn in South Africa?

All the internships listed here pay a stipend of R8 174.75 per month, according to the official adverts in DPSA Circulars 36 and 37 of 2026.

Can I apply if I have already done an internship?

Not for these posts. Every advert says applicants who have previously taken part in a public service internship will not be considered. A learnership or private-sector internship is not the same thing. If you are unsure, check the wording of the specific advert.

Can I apply with matric only?

No. These are graduate internships, so you need a National Diploma or degree in the listed field. With matric only, look at learnerships and entry-level posts instead. Our guide to matric jobs in DPSA Circular 37 is a good place to start.

How long does a government internship last?

Most last 24 months and are not renewable. The Limpopo programme runs from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029.

When will I hear back?

Departments contact only shortlisted candidates. If you hear nothing within the period stated in the advert (one month for CSPS, three months for MISA), assume you were not successful and keep applying to new circulars.

Find more internships

New public service vacancy circulars are published almost every week, except in December. Browse the latest internships in South Africa and jobs in South Africa on Jobsiz. If you would rather go the learnership route, see what the learnership allowance in South Africa pays. You can also register on SAYouth.mobi to get matched with youth opportunities.

Sources

• DPSA Public Service Vacancy Circular 37 of 2026 (16 October 2026): CSPS (Annexure B) and MISA internships

• DPSA Public Service Vacancy Circular 36 of 2026: National Department of Health (Annexure G), Eastern Cape DSRAC and Limpopo Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure (Annexure W) internships

Closing dates and requirements were checked against the official circulars on 22 October 2026. Departments can change or withdraw adverts, so confirm the details in the circular before you apply.