Department of Transport Internship Programme: A Complete Guide for Graduates

The Department of Transport is offering a valuable opportunity for graduates to gain practical experience through its Graduate Internship Programme. This program is designed to provide 24 months of hands-on training across a wide range of fields, helping recent graduates launch their careers. With a monthly stipend and diverse roles available, it’s a chance to contribute to South Africa’s transport sector while developing essential professional skills.

Key Takeaways

• The Department of Transport offers a 24-month Graduate Internship Programme to provide practical experience and launch careers.
• Internships cover a wide range of fields including administration, IT, finance, engineering, and specialized transport roles.
• A monthly stipend starting at R8,174.75 is provided, with potential increases based on qualification level.
• Applicants must have completed their academic requirements, not have prior internship experience, and submit a new Z83 form with a CV by October 9, 2026.

Understanding the Department of Transport Internship Programme

The Department of Transport’s Graduate Internship Programme is a 24-month initiative aimed at equipping graduates with real-world experience. This program is open to individuals who have completed their academic requirements and are looking to apply their knowledge in a professional setting. The department offers a variety of internship positions, covering areas such as administration, finance, information technology, human resources, transport, engineering, and planning. This broad scope ensures that graduates from many different academic backgrounds can find a suitable placement.

A key benefit of this program is the monthly stipend, which starts at R8,174.75 and can increase based on the intern’s qualification level. This financial support allows interns to focus on their development without significant financial strain. The program is a crucial step for many young professionals seeking to enter the public service and gain valuable insights into the workings of a government department.

Available Internship Opportunities

The Department of Transport has a wide array of internship roles available, catering to diverse educational backgrounds and career aspirations. These roles are categorized by their specific focus areas, each requiring particular qualifications.

General Graduate Internships

The general graduate internship program includes numerous positions such as:

• Administration Intern: For those with qualifications in Public Administration, Political Science, International Relations, Public Affairs, or Management.
• Internal Control and Compliance Intern: Seeking graduates in Financial Accounting, Accounting, or Internal Auditing.
• Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Cluster Coordinators Intern: Open to those with degrees in Public Management, Administration, Strategic Planning, Management, or Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Corporate Legal Intern: Requiring an LLB, BA Law, or a postgraduate Law qualification.
• IT Internships: Including roles in Business Intelligence (Database Administration), IT Infrastructure, and Business Systems (Web Development), all requiring IT, Computer Science, or Informatics backgrounds.
• Human Resources Internships: Covering Labour Relations, Recruitment and Selection, Administration, Employee Health and Wellness, Organisational Development, and Change Management. These roles typically require HR Management, Industrial Psychology, or related fields.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Intern: For graduates in GIS, Geography, Cartography, Geomatics, or similar fields.
• Travel Services Intern: Seeking qualifications in Public Administration, Public Management, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or Tourism.
• Facilities Management Intern: For those with backgrounds in Public Administration, Management, Financial Management, or Supply Chain Management.
• Environmental Coordination Intern: Requiring degrees in Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Town Planning, or transport-related fields.
• Human Resource Development and PMDS Intern (X4): Open to those with HR Management, HR Development, or Industrial Psychology qualifications.
• Financial Administration Intern: For graduates in Financial Management, Accounting, Public Finance, or Cost and Management Accounting.
• Supply Chain Management Intern (X2): Requiring qualifications in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or Procurement Management.

Specialized Transport Internships

Beyond the general roles, the department also offers specialized internships focused on various aspects of the transport sector:

• Road Transport Research, Policy, Standards and Guidelines Intern: For Civil Engineering graduates.
• Road Safety Intern: Seeking candidates with backgrounds in Road Traffic Safety Management, Traffic Policing, Civil Engineering, Transport Management, Transport Planning, or Data Analytics.
• Road Accident and Incident Investigation Intern: Requiring Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Road Crash Investigation qualifications.
• Maritime Internships: Including Maritime Security and Maritime Industry Development, requiring Maritime Security Management, Maritime Studies, Shipping and Logistics, or Transport Management degrees.
• Aviation Internships: Covering Multilateral Affairs, Aviation Industry Development, and Airfreight, with specific reference numbers provided in the advert.
• Public Transport Internships: Focusing on Network Development, with multiple positions available.
• Rail Internships: Including Rail Infrastructure and Industry Development, Service Delivery (Rail Operations), Safety Regulation, and Policy and Strategic Development.
• Modelling and Macroeconomic Analysis Intern: For those with relevant analytical qualifications.
• Freight Logistics Intern: Focusing on the movement of goods.
• Black Economic Empowerment Intern: To support initiatives promoting economic transformation.
• Public Entity Finance Intern: For those interested in the financial management of public entities.
• Governance Intern: To support the department’s governance structures.

Public Transport and Town Planning Internships

In addition to the Pretoria-based roles, the department is also recruiting 18 interns for provincial Public Transport and Town Planning opportunities. These positions are distributed across nine provinces: Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Western Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal, with two posts available in each province. Applicants for these roles should possess a National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in fields such as Transport Economics, Transport Planning, Transport Engineering, Civil Engineering, Town and Regional Planning, or relevant postgraduate qualifications.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

To be considered for the Department of Transport Graduate Internship Programme, applicants must meet specific criteria. Primarily, candidates must have successfully completed the academic requirements for the internship discipline they are applying for. It is important to note that individuals who have previously participated in any internship program will not be eligible for this opportunity. Furthermore, all appointments are contingent upon the verification of qualifications, previous work experience, citizenship, references, and successful security vetting.

Applicants interested in multiple internship fields must submit a separate Z83 application form for each position. This ensures that each application is considered individually for the specific role.

How to Apply for the Internship

The application process for the Department of Transport Graduate Internship Programme requires careful attention to detail. All applications must be submitted using the new Z83 application form. It is essential to clearly state the specific post and reference number for which you are applying on the form. A comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) must accompany the Z83 application.

For the general Graduate Internship Programme, applications can be submitted via email, post, or hand delivery:

• Email: [email protected]
• Postal Address: Department of Transport, Private Bag X193, Pretoria, 0001
• Hand Delivery: Department of Transport, 159 Forum Building, Corner Struben and Bosman Street, Pretoria

For the Public Transport/Town Planning graduate internships, applications should be directed to:

• Email: [email protected]

For Work Integrated Learning applications, the designated email address is:

• Email: [email protected]

The application deadline for all positions is 09 October 2026. It is advisable to submit your application well before the closing date to avoid any last-minute issues.

For any inquiries regarding the general graduate internships, you may contact Ms Maria Mabitsela at 012 309 3383 or Ms Stephlyn Groep at 012 309 3737. For Public Transport internship inquiries, please reach out to Ms Jennifer Dikgale at 012 309 3972 or Mr Avhatuwi Lithole at 012 309 3994.

Conclusion

The Department of Transport’s Graduate Internship Programme presents a significant opportunity for recent graduates to gain valuable experience within the public sector. With a wide range of roles available across various disciplines and a supportive stipend, this program is an excellent stepping stone for a career in transport and public administration. By carefully following the application instructions and meeting the eligibility criteria, aspiring interns can position themselves for success in this developmental initiative.

Frequently Asked Questions