In 2002, the Cabinet approved a HRD strategy for the public service. This included an Internship framework which aims to provide students and unemployed youth with practical work experience for a maximum of 24 months. The goal is to help bridge the gap between academic studies and competent performance in the workplace.

To meet the requirements of the Skills Development Act No 31 of 2003, the National Skills Development Strategy, and the Departmental strategy aimed at addressing skills shortages, the Department is recruiting graduates for the Internship program. The DPSA guidelines state that at least 5% of the establishment of the department should be made up of interns.

Each intern is assigned a designated mentor who is responsible for their development and support in line with the career development of the protégé and the department's strategic objectives.

The next intake for the program will be for the years 2024/25 and 2025/26. You can find out more information and apply on the DPSA website (www.dpsa.gov.za), the department website (www.dffe.gov.za), and all social media platforms of the department.

The department offers internships to previously disadvantage South African students; the purpose of the programmes is to establish an effective system for continuous development of skilled and experienced candidates for future appointments and mobility in both the public and private sector.

The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries'  programme seeks to achieve the following objectives:

• Enhance youth development and employability
• Develop a culture of high quality lifelong learning within Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
• Foster skills transfer (through coaching) from Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries' permanent staff to interns