NERSA Internship and Learnership Programmes 2026: Applications Open for Unemployed South African Graduates
NERSA Internship and Learnership Programmes 2026: Applications Open for Unemployed South African Graduates
Location: Pretoria, Gauteng
Closing Date: 16 November 2026
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) is inviting applications from suitably qualified unemployed South African citizens for its 2026 Internship and Learnership Programmes. The opportunity is aimed at graduates and qualifying applicants who want to gain practical workplace experience, strengthen their professional skills and develop their careers.
The programmes cover several departments, creating opportunities for candidates with qualifications in fields such as law, finance, accounting, economics, engineering, information technology, human resources, communications, supply chain management and other disciplines.
Successful candidates will be appointed on a 24-month contract with NERSA. Although permanent employment is not guaranteed after the programme, the organisation indicates that further opportunities may be considered on merit.
Available Internship and Learnership Opportunities
NERSA has listed opportunities across the following departments. Applicants should check that their qualifications match the requirements for the relevant department.
| Department | Required field of study | Reference number |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Advisory Services | Law, BA in Law or National Diploma in Law | LAS2026 |
| Information Communication and Technology | Information Technology or Information Management | ICT2026 |
| Information Resource Management | Information Science or Information Management | IRM2026 |
| Communication and Stakeholder Management | Communication, Public Relations, Marketing or Journalism | CSM2026 |
| Human Resources Management | Human Resources Management | HRM2026 |
| Internal Audit Unit | Auditing | IAU2026 |
| Regulatory Analysis and Research | Economics, Finance or Statistics | RAR2026 |
| Finance Management and Governance | Accounting | FMG2026 |
| Supply Chain Management, Facilities/Project | Supply Chain, Purchasing or Logistics Management | SCM2026 |
| Office of the CEO | Business Administration or Office Management | CEO2026 |
| Security Management | Security Management, Security Risk Management, Safety and Security Management | SM2026 |
| International Relations | Diplomacy Studies, International Relations or Political Studies | IR2026 |
| Strategic Planning and Monitoring | Auditing or Risk Management | SPM2026 |
| Electricity Pricing and Tariffs | Accounting, Finance or Economics | EPT2026 |
| Electricity Licensing, Compliance and Dispute Resolution | Electrical Engineering | ELC2026 |
| Electricity Infrastructure Planning | Electrical Engineering | EIP2026 |
| Gas Licensing, Compliance and Dispute Resolution | Chemical Engineering | GLC2026 |
| Gas Competition and Market Analysis | Accounting, Finance or Economics | GCM2026 |
| Gas Pricing and Tariffs | Accounting, Finance or Economics | GPT2026 |
| Petroleum Pipelines Tariffs | Accounting, Economics or Finance | PPT2026 |
| Petroleum Licensing, Compliance and Dispute Resolution | Mechanical, Chemical or Industrial Engineering | PLC2026 |
Minimum Requirements
To qualify for the NERSA Internship and Learnership Programmes, applicants must meet the general eligibility requirements stated in the advertisement:
- Be an unemployed South African citizen.
- Have completed Grade 12 (Matric).
- Hold a relevant qualification from a South African university.
- Possess a qualification at the required NQF level for the department being applied to.
The advertisement accepts qualifications at the following levels, depending on the position:
- National Diploma or Diploma (NQF Level 6).
- Bachelor’s Degree, BTech Degree or Advanced Diploma (NQF Level 7).
- Postgraduate Diploma or Honours Degree (NQF Level 8).
- Master’s Degree (NQF Level 9).
Applicants should pay particular attention to the qualification listed against their preferred department. Meeting the general education requirement does not automatically qualify an applicant for every available programme.
Duties and Workplace Experience
The NERSA advertisement does not provide detailed daily duties for each placement. However, the programmes are intended to give participants meaningful workplace exposure and opportunities to develop professional skills within their assigned departments.
Depending on the department, successful candidates may gain exposure to areas such as regulatory work, financial administration, legal services, information management, research, stakeholder communication, engineering-related regulatory functions and organisational support.
This makes the programmes relevant to graduates seeking to understand how a national energy regulator operates and how different professional disciplines contribute to the regulation of South Africa’s energy industries.
Important Application Documents
Applicants must prepare a comprehensive application before submitting it. According to the advertisement, the required documents are:
- A comprehensive and updated CV.
- A certified copy of the applicant’s South African ID.
- Certified copies of relevant qualifications.
- A certified copy of the applicant’s full academic record.
Make sure that the documents are clear and properly prepared before sending the application.
How to Apply for NERSA Internships and Learnerships 2026
Interested applicants can submit their applications by email or post. Email applications: Send the required documents to:
applications@nersa.org.za
Postal applications: Applications may also be sent to:
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa
Human Resources Division
PO Box 40343
Arcadia
Pretoria
0007
For the attention of Ms. Lena Rankhumise or Mr. Nkanyiso Magwaza.
Important Application Instructions
NERSA has highlighted specific instructions that applicants must follow:
- Clearly indicate the relevant department and reference number in the email subject line.
- Submit a separate application for each programme or department applied for.
- Applications that do not reflect the required reference number and division in the subject line will be disqualified.
- Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.
- Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The closing date is 16 November 2026. Applicants are encouraged to submit their documents before the deadline to avoid missing the opportunity. NERSA will communicate only with shortlisted candidates. If an applicant has not received communication within three months after the closing date, the application should be regarded as unsuccessful.
About the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA)
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) is a regulatory authority established under the National Energy Regulator Act, 2004. Its primary responsibility is to regulate South Africa’s electricity, piped-gas and petroleum pipeline industries.
NERSA operates within the country’s energy sector, overseeing regulatory matters in accordance with legislation including the Electricity Regulation Act, the Gas Act and the Petroleum Pipelines Act. Its work contributes to the regulation and oversight of important energy industries that support economic activity and service delivery across South Africa.
Through its Internship and Learnership Programmes, NERSA also contributes to youth development and skills development by providing unemployed graduates with opportunities to gain workplace exposure. These programmes allow qualifying candidates to develop their knowledge and experience while being introduced to the work of a national regulatory institution.
How to Apply
Applicants who meet the requirements should prepare their CV, certified ID, qualifications and full academic record, then submit their applications using the email address or postal details provided above. Before applying, confirm that the qualification matches the department and that the correct reference number and division appear in the email subject line.