Eskom invites unemployed South African youth with Grade 12 to apply for 18 Youth Employment Service opportunities at Kendal Power Station in Mpumalanga.
YES Programme Application Closing Date: 29 July 2026
YES Programme Location: Kendal Power Station, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Eskom Youth Employment Service Programme 2026
Eskom is recruiting 18 young South Africans for its Youth Employment Service Programme at Kendal Power Station in Mpumalanga.
The programme provides unemployed youth with 12 months of practical workplace experience in South Africa’s electricity and energy sector.
Successful applicants will be appointed on fixed-term contracts and placed within Eskom operations according to organisational requirements.
YES Programme Overview
Organisation: Eskom
Programme: Youth Employment Service Programme
Listing reference: eskom_005893
Number of opportunities: 18
Business unit: Kendal Power Station
Department: Human Resources
Position or task grade: YY1
Employment type: Fixed-term contract
Programme duration: 12 months
Minimum qualification: Grade 12 or equivalent
Age requirement: 18 to 34 years
Remuneration: Market-related
Location: Mpumalanga
Closing date: 29 July 2026
Application method: Online
Purpose of the Eskom YES Programme
The Youth Employment Service initiative is a public-private programme intended to help address youth unemployment in South Africa.
Through this opportunity, Eskom aims to provide young people with their first meaningful workplace experience.
Successful participants may gain:
- Practical workplace exposure.
- Experience in the electricity and energy industry.
- Professional communication skills.
- Administrative experience.
- Teamwork skills.
- An understanding of workplace policies and procedures.
- Improved confidence and employability.
- Exposure to Eskom’s operational environment.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be South African citizens.
- Be between 18 and 34 years old.
- Have completed Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification.
- 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 a 12-month fixed-term contract.
- Complete Eskom’s recruitment and selection process.
Grade 12 Requirement
Applicants must have:
- Grade 12; or
- An equivalent qualification.
The advertisement does not specify compulsory Grade 12 subjects or a minimum academic average.
Applicants should provide accurate details of their qualification during the online application.
Employment History Requirement
Applicants should not have been permanently employed by one employer continuously for more than one year.
This means the programme is intended mainly for young people with limited formal work experience who need an opportunity to enter the labour market.
Applicants should disclose previous employment accurately during the recruitment process.
Previous YES Participation
Applicants must not have:
- Participated in the YES initiative before; or
- Registered for another YES opportunity previously.
Candidates who have already completed a YES placement may not be eligible.
Study Requirement
Applicants must not be studying full-time during the year of employment.
Successful candidates must be available to participate in the programme and complete their assigned workplace responsibilities.
Skills and Competencies
Applicants should demonstrate the following competencies:
- Teamwork.
- Integrity.
- Professionalism.
- Customer-service orientation.
- Good communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Negotiation skills.
- Liaison skills.
- Politeness.
- Promptness.
- Energy and enthusiasm.
- Self-motivation.
- Assertiveness.
- Willingness to learn.
Knowledge of Eskom Policies
Successful candidates may be expected to learn and comply with Eskom’s:
- Workplace policies.
- Safety procedures.
- Administrative requirements.
- Code of conduct.
- Reporting structures.
- Operational procedures.
- Human Resources requirements.
Previous knowledge of Eskom policies is not described as a compulsory qualification, but participants must be willing to learn and follow organisational procedures.
Programme Duration
The Eskom YES Programme will run for:
12 months
Successful candidates will receive a fixed-term contract for the programme period.
The opportunity provides temporary workplace experience and does not guarantee permanent employment with Eskom after completion.
Programme Remuneration
The remuneration is listed as:
Market-related
The advertisement does not provide the exact monthly stipend or salary.
Applicants should wait for official communication from Eskom regarding payment and employment conditions.
Placement Information
The advertised positions are linked to:
Kendal Power Station, Mpumalanga
The advert also notes that successful YES candidates may be placed within Eskom operations across its divisions according to operational needs.
Applicants should follow the location and placement information communicated during the recruitment process.
Recruitment Process
Applicants will undergo an Eskom recruitment process.
This may include:
- Application screening.
- Verification of citizenship.
- Age verification.
- Qualification checks.
- Employment-history checks.
- Confirmation of previous YES participation.
- Interviews or assessments.
- Other suitability checks required by Eskom.
Only applicants who successfully complete the selection process will be placed.
Documents Applicants May Need
The advertisement does not provide a complete supporting-document list.
Applicants may be required to upload:
- An updated CV.
- A copy of their South African identity document.
- A copy of their Grade 12 certificate.
- A statement of results, where applicable.
- Proof of residential address.
- Any additional documents requested through the Eskom careers portal.
Applicants should follow the instructions displayed during the online application.
How to Apply for Eskom YES Programme 2026
Applications must be submitted online through the official Eskom careers platform.
Click here to apply for Eskom YES Programme 2026 at Kendal Power Station
Use the following details to identify the opportunity:
Position: Youth Employment Service
Listing reference: eskom_005893
Number of positions: 18
Location: Mpumalanga
Applicants should:
- Open the official Eskom vacancy page.
- Create or sign in to an applicant profile.
- Complete all compulsory application sections.
- Enter the correct Grade 12 information.
- Provide accurate employment-history details.
- Confirm that they have not participated in YES before.
- Upload an updated CV and requested documents.
- Review the application carefully.
- Submit it before the closing date.
YES Programme Application Closing Date
Applications close today, 29 July 2026.
The advertisement does not provide a specific closing time. Applicants should therefore submit their applications as early as possible today.
Late or incomplete applications may not be considered.
Important Application Checklist
Before submitting the application, confirm that:
- You are a South African citizen.
- You are between 18 and 34 years old.
- You have completed Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification.
- You are not studying full-time.
- You have not participated in the YES initiative before.
- You have not worked permanently for one employer for more than one continuous year.
- Your CV is updated.
- Your contact details are correct.
- Your supporting documents are readable.
- You selected listing reference eskom_005893.
- Your application is submitted on 29 July 2026.
About Eskom
Eskom operates within South Africa’s electricity and energy sector.
Its Youth Employment Service opportunities provide qualifying young people with workplace experience intended to improve their practical skills and future employment prospects.