The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment invites unemployed South African graduates residing within the Lejweleputswa District Municipality to apply for the EPWP Youth Graduate Project 2026/2027.
Project Application Closing Date: 14 August 2026 at 16:00
Project Location: Lejweleputswa District Municipality, Free State, South Africa
DFFE EPWP Youth Graduate Project 2026/2027
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, through its Environmental Programmes Branch under the Expanded Public Works Programme, is recruiting 20 unemployed graduates for the Youth Graduate Project.
The programme will provide graduates with practical workplace exposure in environmental management and waste management within the Lejweleputswa District Municipality.
Successful applicants will be appointed for eight months and paid R271.04 for each working day.
Project Overview
Department: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Programme: EPWP Youth Graduate Project 2026/2027
Number of posts: 20
Placement municipality: Lejweleputswa District Municipality
Placement fields: Environmental Management and Waste Management
Contract duration: Eight months
Working schedule: Five days per week
Daily rate: R271.04
Commencement date: To be determined
Closing date: 14 August 2026 at 16:00
Application method: Hand delivery
Available Graduate Opportunities
The 20 graduate opportunities will be allocated within the following areas:
- Environmental Management
- Waste Management
The official information does not provide the number of posts allocated to each placement area.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be unemployed graduates.
- Be South African youth.
- Reside within the Lejweleputswa District Municipality.
- Hold a qualification relevant to the environmental sector.
- Be available for the eight-month project.
- Submit all compulsory application documents.
- Hand-deliver the application before the closing date.
The advertisement does not specify a minimum or maximum age.
Accepted Qualifications
Applicants may hold one of the following qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Health
- Another relevant environmental qualification
Applicants should ensure that the qualification shown on their CV and supporting documents is relevant to environmental or waste-management work.
Project Placement Areas
Successful graduates may be placed within municipal environmental programmes related to:
- Environmental management
- Waste management
- Environmental service delivery
- Community environmental initiatives
- Environmental awareness
- Environmental project administration
The official advertisement does not provide a detailed list of daily duties.
Project Duration
Successful applicants will be appointed for:
Eight months
The project will operate on a five-day working week.
The commencement date will be determined by the department or implementing municipality.
Daily Rate
Participants will be paid:
R271.04 per day
The advertisement describes this as a daily rate rather than a fixed monthly salary.
The total amount earned each month may therefore depend on the number of paid working days.
Estimated Monthly Earnings
Based on approximately 21 to 22 working days in a month, earnings may be around:
- 21 days: R5 691.84
- 22 days: R5 962.88
These figures are estimates only. Actual payment will depend on the official attendance and payment arrangements.
Additional Benefits
The advertisement does not specify whether the programme provides:
- Accommodation
- Transport allowance
- Medical aid
- Relocation assistance
- Meal allowance
- Permanent employment after completion
Applicants should plan around the advertised daily rate only.
Participation Targets
The programme aims to achieve the following participation targets:
- 100% youth participation
- 60% women participation
- 2% participation by persons living with disabilities
These targets support government youth-development and employment-equity objectives.
Meeting a participation category does not automatically guarantee selection.
Required Application Documents
Applications must include:
- A comprehensive and updated Curriculum Vitae.
- A certified copy of the South African identity document.
- Certified copies of relevant qualifications.
- Proof of residence within the Lejweleputswa District Municipality.
Applicants should ensure that all documents are clear and readable.
Proof of Residence
Proof of residence must confirm that the applicant lives within the Lejweleputswa District Municipality.
Applicants may use an acceptable document showing their residential address, subject to the requirements of the receiving office.
The official information does not state how recently the proof of residence must have been issued.
Certification of Documents
The advertisement requires certified copies of:
- The applicant’s identity document.
- Relevant qualifications.
The source does not state a specific certification-validity period. Applicants should submit recently certified copies to avoid possible delays.
How to Apply for DFFE EPWP Youth Graduate Project 2026/2027
Applications must be hand-delivered in a sealed envelope.
Click here to apply for DFFE EPWP Youth Graduate Project 2026/2027
The envelope must be clearly marked:
Youth Graduate Project (YGP) 2026/2027 Application
Applicants must include all required supporting documents before sealing and submitting the envelope.
Application Address
Hand-deliver applications to:
Lejweleputswa District Municipality
Corner Jan Hofmeyr and Tempest Road
Welkom
9459
Free State
South Africa
Applicants should ensure that the receiving office accepts and records the application before the deadline.
Applications Not Accepted
The following application methods will not be accepted:
- Fax
- Late submission
The source only provides hand delivery as the approved application method.
Project Application Closing Date
Applications close on:
Friday, 14 August 2026 at 16:00
Applications received after 16:00 will not be considered.
Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day to hand-deliver their documents.
Important Application Conditions
Applicants should note that:
- There are 20 available graduate opportunities.
- Applicants must reside within Lejweleputswa District Municipality.
- Applicants must be unemployed graduates.
- A relevant environmental qualification is required.
- The contract lasts eight months.
- Payment is R271.04 per working day.
- Applications must be placed in a sealed envelope.
- The envelope must display the correct programme title.
- Only hand-delivered applications will be accepted.
- Email, fax and late applications will not be considered.
- Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee selection.
Application Checklist
Before submitting your application, confirm that:
- You are an unemployed South African graduate.
- You reside within Lejweleputswa District Municipality.
- Your qualification is relevant to the environmental sector.
- Your CV is updated.
- Your South African identity document is certified.
- Your qualification copies are certified.
- Your proof of residence is included.
- Every document is clear and readable.
- Your application is placed in a sealed envelope.
- The envelope is marked “Youth Graduate Project (YGP) 2026/2027 Application”.
- You hand-deliver the application to the Welkom address.
- Your application reaches the municipality by 16:00 on 14 August 2026.