merSETA — the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority — is inviting applications from suitably qualified South African graduates for its 24-Month Internship Programme. Positions are available across a wide range of departments at the Head Office in Parktown, Johannesburg, as well as at Regional Offices nationwide.

Established under the Skills Development Act (Act No. 97 of 1998), merSETA is a Schedule 3A public entity mandated to facilitate skills development across the Metal and Engineering, Motor Retail and Components Manufacturing, Automobile Manufacturing, Plastics Manufacturing, and New Tyre Manufacturing sectors. This internship programme is designed to provide graduates with meaningful workplace experience and professional development in a dynamic public sector environment.

About the Programme

The programme runs for a fixed period of 24 months. Interns will be placed within their relevant department and gain hands-on exposure to the day-to-day operations of a leading sector education and training authority. Monthly stipends are structured according to qualification level: R10,000 for holders of a 3-Year National Diploma (NQF Level 6), R11,000 for Bachelor’s or BTech degree holders (NQF Level 7), and R12,000 for Honours or postgraduate qualifications (NQF Level 8 and above).

Available Departments and Qualifications

Internship opportunities are available across the following units:

Learning Programmes and Quality Assurance; Grants Management; Legal and Compliance; Human Resources; Finance; Assets; Travel; Marketing and Communications; Project Management; Monitoring and Reporting; Sector Skills Planning, Research and Innovation and Chambers; Quality Systems; ICT (Networks); ICT (Development); ICT (Library and Information); Supply Chain; and Company Secretariat — all based at Head Office in Parktown, Johannesburg.

In addition, 16 Client Services intern positions (2 per region) are available across Gauteng South A and B, Gauteng North, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and Northern Cape.

Relevant qualifications span Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Law, Labour Relations, Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, Journalism, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Project Management, Quality Systems, Engineering, ICT, Library and Information Science, Supply Chain Management, Social Sciences, and related fields — at National Diploma or Bachelor’s degree level.

Who Can Apply

To be eligible, applicants must be South African citizens between the ages of 18 and 35, with no prior work experience. Candidates must not have previously participated in, or currently be participating in, any internship programme. merSETA is an equal opportunity employer; preference will be given to suitably qualified Affirmative Action candidates and people living with disabilities, in line with the organisation’s Employment Equity Plan.

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted through any of the following channels: email your CV to recruit@rapidrecruiting.co.za or shanelle@rapidrecruiting.co.za; apply via WhatsApp by contacting 033 880 0263; search for Rapid Recruiting on PNet and apply online; or find the listing on LinkedIn and apply directly.

Closing Date: 20 April 2026

Please note that this is a fixed-term programme. Should you not receive feedback within two weeks of the closing date, consider your application unsuccessful. Rapid Recruiting reserves the right not to make any appointments.