The National Empowerment Fund invites unemployed South African graduates to apply for the Secretariat Trainee Programme 2026.
Internship Application Closing Date: 07 August 2026
Internship Location: Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa
NEF Secretariat Trainee Programme 2026
The National Empowerment Fund is recruiting a graduate trainee to gain practical experience in corporate governance, board administration and company secretariat functions.
The programme will expose the successful candidate to governance frameworks, board and committee processes, compliance requirements, statutory records and corporate secretarial administration.
This opportunity is suitable for graduates who want to build careers in corporate governance, legal administration, board secretariat services or compliance.
Internship Programme Overview
Organisation: National Empowerment Fund
Position: Trainee: Secretariat
Listing reference: nef_000188
Industry: Financial Services
Job category: Secretarial
Employment type: Internship
Employment-equity position: Yes
Remuneration: Market-related
Location: Sandton, Gauteng
Closing date: 07 August 2026
Application method: Online
Purpose of the Programme
The trainee programme provides practical exposure to corporate governance, board administration and company secretariat functions within a professional corporate environment.
The successful candidate will develop an understanding of:
- Corporate governance principles.
- Board and committee administration.
- Governance frameworks.
- Statutory record keeping.
- Regulatory compliance.
- Organisational accountability.
- Ethical business practices.
- Company secretarial documentation.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or Advanced Diploma in a relevant field.
Suitable qualifications include:
- Bachelor of Commerce in Law.
- Bachelor of Laws.
- Public Management.
- Public Administration.
- Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa qualifications.
- A similar relevant qualification.
Applicants should ensure that their CV clearly states the qualification, institution and completion date.
Graduate Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should:
- Be unemployed graduates.
- Not have previously held a full-time position.
- Not have participated in an internship programme.
- Not have participated in a learnership programme.
- Meet the qualification requirements.
- Be available to work in Sandton.
Basic administrative experience will be advantageous but is not listed as compulsory.
Key Responsibilities
The successful trainee will assist with:
- Board meeting administration.
- Sub-committee meeting administration.
- Meeting logistics.
- Preparing meeting agendas.
- Compiling meeting packs.
- Taking minutes.
- Maintaining governance records.
- Maintaining statutory registers.
- Recording resolutions.
- Tracking action items.
- Supporting statutory filings.
- Assisting with regulatory submissions.
- Governance reporting.
- Compliance administration.
- Corporate-governance research.
- Responding to governance and legal queries.
Board and Committee Meeting Support
The trainee will provide administrative and coordination support for Board and Sub-Committee meetings.
This may include:
- Scheduling meetings.
- Coordinating venues or online meeting arrangements.
- Preparing agendas.
- Collecting documents for meeting packs.
- Distributing meeting materials.
- Recording attendance.
- Taking accurate meeting minutes.
- Maintaining meeting records.
- Following up on outstanding documents.
Meeting Packs and Agendas
The successful candidate will assist with compiling professional meeting packs.
Responsibilities may include:
- Gathering reports from relevant departments.
- Checking that documents are complete.
- Arranging documents in the correct order.
- Ensuring that agendas reflect the matters to be discussed.
- Distributing meeting packs before meetings.
- Protecting confidential information.
- Maintaining electronic and physical records.
Minute Taking
The trainee will assist with recording accurate minutes of Board and committee meetings.
Minutes may include:
- Meeting dates and times.
- Attendance and apologies.
- Matters discussed.
- Decisions taken.
- Resolutions adopted.
- Action items.
- Responsible persons.
- Due dates.
- Matters arising from previous meetings.
Strong writing, listening and attention-to-detail skills will be important.
Governance and Compliance Records
The trainee will help maintain governance and compliance records in line with company and regulatory requirements.
These records may include:
- Board minutes.
- Committee minutes.
- Statutory registers.
- Written resolutions.
- Governance reports.
- Compliance records.
- Policies.
- Company secretarial documents.
- Regulatory submissions.
The trainee must maintain confidentiality, accuracy and integrity when handling information.
Tracking Resolutions and Action Items
The successful candidate will assist with monitoring Board and Sub-Committee resolutions.
This may include:
- Recording approved resolutions.
- Tracking action items.
- Following up with responsible employees.
- Updating action registers.
- Monitoring deadlines.
- Reporting outstanding matters.
- Preparing progress updates.
- Maintaining evidence of completed actions.
Statutory Filings and Regulatory Submissions
The trainee may assist with:
- Preparing statutory filing information.
- Maintaining filing records.
- Supporting regulatory submissions.
- Checking supporting documents.
- Monitoring submission deadlines.
- Updating compliance registers.
- Filing proof of submission.
- Supporting governance-reporting requirements.
Corporate Governance Research
The successful candidate will conduct research on:
- Corporate-governance legislation.
- The Companies Act.
- King IV.
- Regulatory developments.
- Governance best practices.
- Board and committee structures.
- Compliance requirements.
- Ethical leadership.
- Organisational accountability.
Research findings may be used to support governance reports, advice and policy updates.
Governance Framework Knowledge
Knowledge of the following will be advantageous:
- King IV.
- The Companies Act.
- Corporate-governance principles.
- Board-administration processes.
- Statutory record keeping.
- Company secretarial documentation.
- Governance structures.
- Board and committee functions.
Applicants should clearly indicate any relevant academic modules, research projects or practical exposure in their CVs.
Governance and Regulatory Queries
The trainee will assist with responding to governance, legal and regulatory queries.
This may involve:
- Researching applicable requirements.
- Checking policies and governance documents.
- Referring complex matters to senior employees.
- Preparing supporting information.
- Maintaining query records.
- Following up on outstanding responses.
- Communicating professionally with stakeholders.
Microsoft Office Requirements
Applicants must be proficient in:
- Microsoft Word.
- Microsoft Excel.
- Microsoft PowerPoint.
- Microsoft Outlook.
These applications may be used for meeting packs, registers, reports, correspondence, presentations and calendar coordination.
Required Skills and Competencies
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong written communication.
- Strong verbal communication.
- Good organisational skills.
- Time-management ability.
- Attention to detail.
- Accuracy.
- Research ability.
- Analytical thinking.
- Problem-solving skills.
- Interpersonal skills.
- Stakeholder-management ability.
- Teamwork.
- Professionalism.
- Integrity.
- Confidentiality.
- Adaptability.
- Initiative.
- Willingness to learn.
Confidentiality and Professionalism
The trainee may handle confidential information relating to Board members, committees, legal matters and organisational decisions.
The successful candidate must:
- Protect sensitive information.
- Follow information-access controls.
- Maintain professional conduct.
- Avoid unauthorised disclosure.
- Store documents securely.
- Handle records accurately.
- Exercise discretion when communicating.
Internship Remuneration
The remuneration is described as:
Market-related
The supplied advertisement does not state the exact monthly stipend or salary.
Applicants should confirm the payment details if shortlisted or offered the position.
Required Application Documents
The advertisement does not provide a complete list of compulsory supporting documents.
Applicants should prepare:
- An updated Curriculum Vitae.
- A copy of the South African identity document.
- Copies of relevant qualifications.
- An academic transcript.
- Any additional documents requested on the official application portal.
Only documents requested through the official recruitment system should be treated as compulsory.
How to Apply for the NEF Secretariat Trainee Programme 2026
Applications must be submitted online through the official National Empowerment Fund careers platform.
Click here to apply for the NEF Secretariat Trainee Programme 2026
Applicants should use the following listing reference:
nef_000188
Online Application Steps
Applicants should:
- Open the official NEF vacancy page.
- Review the complete programme requirements.
- Create or sign in to an applicant profile.
- Complete all compulsory sections.
- Upload the requested documents.
- Confirm that the qualification information is correct.
- Check the contact details.
- Review the application carefully.
- Submit it before the closing date.
Internship Application Closing Date
Applications close on:
07 August 2026
The closing date is approaching. Applicants should submit their applications as soon as possible to avoid technical problems or incomplete submissions.
Late applications may not be considered.
Employment Equity
The position is identified as an employment-equity role.
The National Empowerment Fund may consider its employment-equity objectives when assessing and appointing candidates.
Important Application Conditions
Applicants should note that:
- They must be unemployed graduates.
- They should not have previously held full-time employment.
- They must not have participated in an internship or learnership.
- A relevant bachelor’s degree or Advanced Diploma is required.
- Basic administrative experience is advantageous.
- Applications must be submitted online.
- Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee appointment.
- Only complete applications may be considered.
Important Application Checklist
Before applying, confirm that:
- You are an unemployed graduate.
- You have not previously held a full-time position.
- You have not completed an internship or learnership.
- You hold a relevant bachelor’s degree or Advanced Diploma.
- Your qualification is in Law, Public Management, Administration, CGISA or a similar field.
- Your CV is updated.
- Your academic documents are ready.
- You are proficient in Microsoft Office.
- You understand basic corporate-governance principles.
- You use listing reference nef_000188.
- You submit through the official NEF careers platform.
- Your application is submitted by 07 August 2026.