NHLS invites South African unemployed graduates to apply for the Graduate Internship Programme 2026 (35 Posts).
Internship Application Closing Date: 05 December 2025
Internship Location: NHLS Divisions, Regional Offices and Institutes across South Africa
Internship Duration: 01 March 2026 – 28 February 2028 (Two-year, fixed-term, non-renewable contract)
The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) is offering 35 internship opportunities for unemployed South African graduates across various divisions, regional offices and specialised units. The programme seeks to provide structured workplace training, mentoring, and hands-on professional development to prepare graduates for future employment in the health, science, and administrative sectors.
Successful applicants will be placed in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State/North West, Limpopo/Mpumalanga, Western/Northern Cape, as well as specialised institutes such as the NICD and NIOH.
A monthly stipend will be paid according to the NHLS stipend structure and qualification level.
Minimum Requirements
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be South African citizens aged 18–35
- Be unemployed
- Hold an Advanced Diploma (NQF 6), Degree, Honours, or Master’s in the relevant field
- Have never participated in any Public Service Internship Programme
- Have strong English communication skills
- Be computer literate
- Possess a valid driver’s licence (advantageous)
Competencies Required:
Teamwork, emotional intelligence, reliability, resilience, organisational skills, professionalism, and technical capability.
NHLS Graduate Internship Posts (35 Posts)
Below is the full list of internship posts per region, including reference numbers and qualifications required.
Corporate Division (Gauteng)
| Region | Posts | Department | Reference Number | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Division (Gauteng) | 1 | Communications | CORP-COMM1-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma in Graphic Arts / Multimedia Design / Communication |
| Corporate Division (Gauteng) | 1 | Communications | CORP-COMM2-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma / Degree in Web Design / Information Management |
| Corporate Division (Gauteng) | 2 | Human Resources | CORP-HR-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma / BTech / BCom in HRM / HRD |
| Corporate Division (Gauteng) | 1 | IT (Microsoft) | CORP-ITM-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma in Information Technology |
| Corporate Division (Gauteng) | 1 | IT (Networks) | CORP-ITN-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma in IT (Networking) |
| Corporate Division (Gauteng) | 1 | IT (Unix) | CORP-ITU-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma in IT + Linux Certificate |
| Corporate Division (Gauteng) | 4 | Risk & Internal Audit | CORP-RI-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma / BCom in Internal Auditing |
| Corporate Division (Gauteng) | 1 | Logistics | CORP-LOG1-001-11/25 | BCom Honours in Transport Management & Logistics |
| Corporate Division (Gauteng) | 1 | Logistics | CORP-LOG2-001-11/25 | BTech Industrial Engineering / Project Management |
Eastern Cape Region
| Region | Posts | Department | Reference Number | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Cape | 1 | Finance | EC-FIN-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma / Degree in Accounting |
| Eastern Cape | 2 | Human Resources | EC-HR-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma / BTech / BCom in HRM / HRD |
| Eastern Cape | 1 | IT | EC-IT-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma / BTech / Degree in IT |
Free State & North West Region
| Region | Posts | Department | Reference Number | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free State & North West | 1 | Procurement | FSNW-PROC-001-11/25 | BCom / Advanced Diploma in Procurement |
Gauteng Region
| Region | Posts | Department | Reference Number | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gauteng | 1 | Finance | GAU-FIN-001-11/25 | BCom / Advanced Diploma in Procurement |
| Gauteng | 1 | Office of Area Manager | GAU-AM-001-11/25 | BSc Honours in Quantity Surveying / Building Engineering |
| Gauteng | 2 | Human Resources | GAU-HR-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma in Warehousing / SCM / Logistics |
KwaZulu-Natal Region
| Region | Posts | Department | Reference Number | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KwaZulu-Natal | 1 | Finance | KZN-FIN-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma in Purchasing & Supply Chain Management |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 2 | Human Resources | KZN-HR-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma / BTech / BCom in HRM / HRD |
Limpopo / Mpumalanga Region
| Region | Posts | Department | Reference Number | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limpopo/Mpumalanga | 2 | Human Resources | LIMP-HR-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma / BTech / BCom in HRM / HRD |
| Limpopo/Mpumalanga | 1 | Training | LIMP-TRA-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma / BTech / BCom in HRM / HRD |
| Limpopo/Mpumalanga | 1 | Finance | LIMP-FIN-001-11/25 | BCom in Finance |
NICD – National Institute for Communicable Diseases (Gauteng)
| Region | Posts | Department | Reference Number | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gauteng (NICD) | 1 | Centre for Emerging Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases | NICD-CEZPD-001-11/25 | Bachelor of Business Administration |
NIOH – National Institute for Occupational Health (Gauteng)
| Region | Posts | Department | Reference Number | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gauteng (NIOH) | 1 | Information Technology | NIOH-IT-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma / Degree in IT |
| Gauteng (NIOH) | 1 | Finance | NIOH-FIN-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma in Purchasing & Supply Chain / Accounting Diploma |
| Gauteng (NIOH) | 1 | Human Resource | NIOH-HR-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma / BTech / BCom in HRM / HRD |
Western & Northern Cape Region
| Region | Posts | Department | Reference Number | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western/Northern Cape | 2 | Human Resources | WCNC-HR-001-11/25 | Advanced Diploma / BTech / BCom in HRM / HRD |
How to Apply
Click below to apply for the NHLS Graduate Internship Programme 2026:
👉 Click here to apply for the NHLS Graduate Internship Programme 2026
Important:
- Use the correct regional email address provided below
- Your email subject line MUST include the Reference Number and Position Title
- Submit all required certified documents
- Only complete applications will be considered
Email Submission Addresses & Enquiries
Corporate Division (Gauteng)
Email: Corporate2@nhls.ac.za
Contacts: Ms Sesethu Bhabha / Mr Lunga Mndebele
Tel: 011 386 6187
Eastern Cape
Email: Ecrecruitment@nhls.ac.za
Contacts: Ms Lindokuhle Mbele / Ms Phumzile Mbilini / Mr Funda Nobatyi
Tel: 047 502 4192 / 041 395 6162
Free State & North West
Email: FSNW.recruitment1@nhls.ac.za
Contact: Ms Nomusa Sithole
Tel: 066 376 6372
Gauteng Region
Email: Gaucov1.Recruitment@nhls.ac.za
Contact: Mr Michael Ramalepe
Tel: 011 489 9775
KwaZulu-Natal
Email: kznrecuitment@nhls.ac.za
Contacts: Mr Shaun Govender / Ms Promise Mncube / Mr Calvin Naidoo / Ms Stacey Wilkins
Tel: 031 327 6768
Limpopo/Mpumalanga
Email: LIMPRegion@nhls.ac.za
Contacts: Ms Marcia Nxumalo / Ms Jeaneth Masibigiri
Tel: 015 296 3910
NICD Division (Gauteng)
Email: kgaogelom@nicd.ac.za
Contact: Ms Kgaogelo Mkwanazi
Tel: 011 386 6090
NIOH Division (Gauteng)
Email: ketsitsengm@nioh.ac.za
Contact: Ms Ketsitseng Maseko
Tel: 011 712 6528
Western & Northern Cape
Email: Asamkele.gonose@nhls.ac.za
Contact: Mr Asamkele Gonose
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