Eskom invites unemployed South African youth to apply for Youth Employment Service Internship opportunities available in Gauteng for 2026.
Internship Application Closing Date: 31 July 2026
Internship Location: Gauteng, South Africa
Eskom YES Internship Programme 2026
Eskom has opened applications for Youth Employment Service opportunities aimed at helping unemployed young South Africans gain their first meaningful workplace experience.
Successful applicants will receive a 12-month contract and may be placed within different Eskom operations and divisions according to organisational requirements.
The official Eskom careers portal currently lists Gauteng YES opportunities with market-related remuneration and a closing date of 31 July 2026. (Eskom)
Internship Programme Overview
Employer: Eskom
Programme: Youth Employment Service Programme
Abbreviation: YES
Industry: Electricity, Energy and Water Supply
Employment category: Matriculants, graduates and applicants with no experience
Contract type: Internship
Contract duration: 12 months
Minimum qualification: Grade 12 or equivalent
Age requirement: 18 to 34 years
Location: Gauteng
Remuneration: Market-related
Closing date: 31 July 2026
Application method: Online
What Is the YES Programme?
The Youth Employment Service is a public-private initiative established to help address youth unemployment by creating workplace opportunities for young South Africans.
Through Eskom’s YES Programme, successful candidates receive temporary workplace exposure that may help them develop:
- Professional workplace behaviour.
- Communication skills.
- Teamwork experience.
- Administrative abilities.
- Customer-service skills.
- Interpersonal skills.
- Knowledge of workplace policies.
- Practical experience in the energy industry.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be South African citizens.
- Be between 18 and 34 years old.
- Have Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification.
- Be currently unemployed.
- Not be studying full-time during the year of employment.
- Not have participated in or registered for the YES initiative previously.
- Not have been permanently employed by one employer continuously for more than one year.
- Be available for the complete 12-month contract.
- Successfully complete Eskom’s recruitment process.
Minimum Qualification
The minimum qualification required is:
Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification
A university degree or diploma is not listed as a compulsory requirement for these YES opportunities.
Applicants should have a clear copy of their Matric certificate or equivalent qualification ready when completing the online application.
Age Requirement
Applicants must be:
Between 18 and 34 years old
Candidates outside this age range may not qualify for the Youth Employment Service Programme.
Employment Experience Requirement
Applicants should not have been permanently employed by one employer continuously for more than one year.
The programme is intended primarily for young people who need entry-level workplace exposure.
Applicants should provide accurate employment-history information because Eskom may verify the details supplied during recruitment.
Full-Time Study Requirement
Applicants must not be studying full-time during the year in which the YES contract will take place.
Candidates completing part-time or distance-learning programmes should ensure that their studies will not interfere with their full-time workplace responsibilities.
Previous YES Participation
Applicants must not have participated in or registered for the YES Programme before.
Previous participation may be checked during the recruitment process. Candidates should therefore answer all related application questions honestly.
Contract Duration
Successful applicants will receive a:
12-month contract
The programme provides temporary workplace experience and does not automatically guarantee permanent employment after completion.
Participants should use the opportunity to build practical skills, professional references and workplace confidence.
Skills and Competencies
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Teamwork.
- Integrity.
- Professionalism.
- Customer-service orientation.
- Communication skills.
- Interpersonal skills.
- Negotiation skills.
- Liaison skills.
- Reliability.
- Willingness to learn.
- Ability to follow instructions.
- Positive workplace behaviour.
Personal Attributes
Suitable applicants should be:
- Polite.
- Punctual.
- Energetic.
- Self-motivated.
- Proactive.
- Assertive.
- Responsible.
- Professional.
- Willing to learn.
Knowledge and Workplace Conduct
Successful candidates will be expected to learn and comply with Eskom’s policies and procedures.
These may relate to:
- Workplace conduct.
- Occupational health and safety.
- Attendance and punctuality.
- Information security.
- Ethics and integrity.
- Customer service.
- Environmental responsibility.
- Operational reporting.
Applicants are not expected to know every Eskom policy before appointment but must be willing to learn and follow organisational procedures.
Available Gauteng Opportunities
Eskom may advertise several YES opportunities in Gauteng under different departments or business units.
Official listings identified on the Eskom careers platform include opportunities in Water and Environmental Operations and Legal, with specific numbers of posts and reference numbers attached to each listing. (Eskom)
Applicants should search the official portal using terms such as:
- Youth Employment Service
- YES
- Gauteng
- Internship
- Grade 12
They should carefully check the location, department, closing date and reference number before submitting an application.
Remuneration
The remuneration is described as:
Market-related
The exact monthly amount was not stated in the programme information.
Successful candidates will receive details about the payment and contract conditions during the appointment process.
Who Should Apply?
The programme is suitable for:
- Unemployed South African youth.
- Matriculants seeking their first job opportunity.
- Applicants aged between 18 and 34.
- Young people interested in the electricity and energy industry.
- Applicants with limited permanent work experience.
- Candidates who have never participated in the YES Programme.
- Applicants who are not studying full-time.
- Young people seeking 12 months of workplace experience.
Documents Applicants Should Prepare
Applicants should prepare:
- An updated CV.
- A copy of their South African identity document.
- A copy of their Grade 12 certificate or equivalent qualification.
- Proof of address where requested.
- Academic or training certificates where applicable.
- Accurate employment-history information.
- Any additional documents requested on the Eskom application portal.
Applicants should ensure that all uploaded documents are clear and readable.
Recruitment and Verification Process
Applicants may be required to undergo:
- Application screening.
- Citizenship verification.
- Age verification.
- Qualification verification.
- Employment-history checks.
- Confirmation of previous YES participation.
- Interviews or assessments.
- Additional checks required by Eskom.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not automatically guarantee selection.
How to Apply for Eskom YES Internship Opportunities 2026
Applications must be submitted online through the official Eskom careers portal.
Click here to apply for Eskom YES Internship Opportunities 2026 in Gauteng
On the careers portal:
- Search for Youth Employment Service or YES.
- Select a Gauteng opportunity that matches your profile.
- Confirm the listing reference and location.
- Create or sign in to your applicant account.
- Complete all compulsory application sections.
- Upload your CV and supporting documents.
- Review the application.
- Submit it before the closing date.
The Eskom careers portal is the official platform for current vacancies, internships, graduate programmes and youth opportunities.
Internship Application Closing Date
Applications close on 31 July 2026.
Applicants should apply early because separate YES listings may have different reference numbers and numbers of available positions.
Important Application Advice
Before submitting an application, confirm that:
- You are a South African citizen.
- You are between 18 and 34 years old.
- You have Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification.
- You are currently unemployed.
- You are not studying full-time.
- You have never participated in the YES Programme.
- You have not worked permanently for one employer for more than one continuous year.
- Your CV and supporting documents are updated.
- You selected the correct Gauteng listing.
- You submit the application by 31 July 2026.
About Eskom
Eskom is South Africa’s public electricity utility, with operations covering electricity generation, transmission, distribution and supporting energy services.
Its careers platform includes bursaries, internships and graduate-development opportunities intended to provide young professionals with practical workplace experience and skills development. (Eskom)