South African graduates and unemployed youth still have several internship opportunities available with application deadlines between 16 and 23 October 2026.
The latest opportunities currently listed on StudentRoom include programmes from government departments, municipalities and public entities, with placements in Gauteng, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Pretoria and East London.
Internship Application Closing Dates: 16–23 October 2026
Internship Locations: Various locations across South Africa
1. CHIETA Internships 2026: Human Resources and Administration
The Chemical Industries Education & Training Authority (CHIETA) invites unemployed graduates to apply for its 24-month Internship Programme 2026 in Gauteng.
Closing Date: 16 October 2026
Location: Gauteng, South Africa
Duration: 24 months
Stipend: R7 000 per month
Available opportunities include:
- Human Resource Intern – Ref: HR2026
- Administration Intern – Ref: AS2026
Applications must be submitted by email to:
StudentRoom currently lists this opportunity with a closing date of 16 October 2026.
2. Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Internships 2026
The Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture invites unemployed South African graduates to apply for its Graduate Internship Programme 2026 / 2027.
Closing Date: 16 October 2026 at 16:00
Location: Kimberley, Northern Cape
Duration: 24 months
The programme is intended to provide unemployed graduates with practical workplace experience within the department.
3. City of Johannesburg Building Development Management Internship 2026
The City of Johannesburg invites qualifying students and graduates residing within Johannesburg to apply for the Building Development Management Student Internship Programme 2026.
Closing Date: 16 October 2026
Location: 100 Carr Street, Newtown Junction Mall, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Duration: Up to 18 months
Applicants must have Grade 12 and a relevant NQF Level 6 qualification. The internship is specifically open to qualifying applicants from Johannesburg communities.
4. Government Printing Works Internships 2026: X45 Graduate Posts
Government Printing Works invites unemployed South African graduates to apply for 45 Graduate Internship opportunities for the 2026 / 2027 period.
Closing Date: 19 October 2026
Locations: Pretoria, Gauteng and East London, Eastern Cape
Duration: 24 months
Stipend: R8 174.75 per month
The programme includes 37 placement areas and 45 posts across fields such as:
- Supply Chain Management
- Procurement
- Finance
- Accounting
- Law
- Information Technology
- Engineering
- Human Resources
- Communications
- Psychology
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Graphic Design
- Public Administration
Hand-delivered applications close at 16:00, while email applications close at 23:59 on 19 October 2026.
5. Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Internship 2026 / 2027
The Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture invites unemployed South African graduates to apply for its 24-month Internship Programme 2026 / 2027.
Closing Date: 23 October 2026
Location: Joe Gqabi District, Maletswai, Eastern Cape
Duration: 24 months
Stipend: R8 174.75 per month
The available opportunity is:
Intern: Cultural Affairs – Arts & Culture
Applicants must submit applications through the Eastern Cape Provincial e-Recruitment System. Email, fax, postal and hand-delivered applications are not accepted.
6. Midvaal Local Municipality Energy Efficiency Internships 2026: X2 Posts
Midvaal Local Municipality invites unemployed graduates residing within the municipality to apply for Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management Internships 2026.
Closing Date: 23 October 2026 at 12:00
Location: Meyerton, Gauteng
Number of Posts: 2
Reference Number: MN4193/26
Duration: 6 months
Salary: R8 333.33 per month
Applicants should have an NQF Level 6 Diploma or NQF Level 7 Bachelor’s Degree in areas such as Electrical Engineering, Built Environment, Natural Sciences, Economic Sciences or a related field.
Internship Closing Dates at a Glance
| Internship | Closing Date |
|---|---|
| CHIETA HR & Administration Internships | 16 October 2026 |
| Northern Cape DSAC Internships | 16 October 2026 at 16:00 |
| City of Johannesburg Internship | 16 October 2026 |
| Government Printing Works X45 Internships | 19 October 2026 |
| Eastern Cape DSRAC Internship | 23 October 2026 |
| Midvaal Municipality Energy Efficiency X2 | 23 October 2026 at 12:00 |
These are the internships I could verify from the current StudentRoom listings with specified closing dates from 16 October through 23 October 2026. I excluded opportunities where StudentRoom currently shows “closing date not specified”, rather than assuming that they close within this period.
Apply Before the Deadlines
Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day. Before applying, check:
- Whether your qualification matches the internship.
- Whether residency requirements apply.
- Whether you need a Z83 form.
- Whether certified documents are required immediately or only if shortlisted.
- The correct reference number.
- Whether applications must be submitted online, by email or by hand.