The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) invites unemployed South African university and TVET College graduates to apply for the Wind Industry Internship Programme (WIIP) 2027. The programme is funded by the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA).
Internship Application Closing Date: 30 October 2026
Internship Location: Various host organisations across South Africa
Internship Duration: 12 months
Target Applicants: Unemployed South African graduates
About the SAWEA WIIP 2027 Graduate Internship Programme
The Wind Industry Internship Programme provides graduates with an opportunity to gain practical workplace experience within South Africa’s renewable energy and wind energy sector.
Successful applicants may be placed with participating host organisations operating across the renewable energy value chain. The exact workplace experience will depend on the host company and assigned department.
The programme is multidisciplinary and accepts qualifications from several academic fields, not only engineering.
Fields of Study
Engineering and Science
Applicants with qualifications in the following fields may apply:
- Energy
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Development Studies
Information Technology and Technology
Relevant fields include:
- Computer Science
- Coding
- Software Engineering
- Management Information Systems
- Information Technology
Business and Commerce
Graduates in the following fields may apply:
- Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Procurement
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing
- Communication
Social Sciences and Law
The programme also accepts graduates in:
- International Relations
- Gender Studies
- Law
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be South African citizens.
- Be unemployed.
- Have graduated from a university or TVET College.
- Hold a qualification aligned with one of the advertised fields.
- Not rely only on a short-course certificate as the qualifying credential.
Can TVET College Graduates Apply?
Yes.
The programme explicitly includes TVET College graduates.
However, the advertisement does not clearly state whether every N6 qualification automatically qualifies. Applicants who have completed N6 theoretical studies but still require experiential training should therefore confirm their eligibility directly with SAWEA.
Is There an Age Limit?
The online application form asks applicants to provide their age.
However, the supplied recruitment information does not state a specific minimum or maximum age requirement. Applicants should therefore not assume an age restriction unless SAWEA confirms one.
Programme Duration
The SAWEA WIIP 2027 internship runs for:
12 months
Successful participants will gain practical workplace exposure within organisations operating in the renewable energy sector.
Stipend
The advertisement confirms that the programme is EWSETA-funded.
However, the monthly stipend amount is not specified in the supplied programme information.
Applicants should therefore confirm remuneration and placement conditions if selected.
Documents Required
Applicants must combine their supporting documents into one PDF in the following order:
- South African ID document.
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Proof of qualification.
- Academic record.
- Letter of reference, if available.
The CV must be no longer than one page.
Application Information Required
The online application form may request:
- Name and surname.
- South African ID number.
- Age.
- Contact number.
- Email address.
- Physical address.
- Postal address.
- Province.
- Local district municipality.
- Residential area.
- Willingness to relocate.
Applicants will also need to provide details of their qualification and NQF level.
Preferred Placement Field
The application form allows applicants to indicate their preferred area of placement.
Available options include fields such as:
- Energy
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Computer Science
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Law
- Software Engineering
Applicants should select the field that most closely matches their actual qualification.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the official SAWEA WIIP Intern 2027 application portal.
Applicants should make sure they use the form specifically labelled WIIP Intern 2027 and not an older programme form or host-company registration form.
Before submitting, applicants should:
- Combine the required documents into one PDF.
- Ensure the CV is no longer than one page.
- Enter qualification details correctly.
- Select the most relevant preferred placement field.
- Confirm contact information.
- Upload the required PDF.
- Review the declaration before submission.
Closing Date
30 October 2026
The deadline was extended to Friday, 30 October 2026.
Applicants are encouraged to submit early rather than waiting until the final day.
What Happens After Applying?
Applicants who have not received feedback from SAWEA by December 2026 should consider their applications unsuccessful.
Submitting an application does not guarantee shortlisting, an interview or placement.