DFFE: Internship Programme – Apply Before 31 March 2026

ByRainbow Time

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) invites unemployed graduates to apply for the Internship Programme 2026–2028, a structured 24-month workplace training opportunity designed to provide practical experience aligned with academic qualifications. The programme offers exposure across multiple fields including Environmental Science, Forestry, Public Administration, Finance, Human Resource Management, Communication, Information Technology, GIS, and related disciplines. Successful candidates will receive a monthly stipend of R7 860.50 and gain valuable experience within national government operations across several provinces in South Africa.

Internship placements are available in Gauteng, Limpopo, North West, Free State, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, and Western Cape, with opportunities aligned to specific qualifications and reference numbers. Applications must include a completed and signed Z83 application form and a detailed Curriculum Vitae submitted as a single PDF attachment, clearly indicating the relevant reference number in the subject line. The closing date for applications is 31 March 2026 at 16:00, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted following verification and screening processes.

  • Position: Internship Programme 2026-2028
  • Stipend: R7 860.50 per month
  • Duration: 24 Months
  • Location: Gauteng, Limpopo, North West, Free State, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape
  • Closing Date: 31 March 2026 (16:00)
JOB OVERVIEW

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) invites unemployed graduates to apply for the Internship Programme 2026–2028. The programme provides structured workplace experience aligned with applicants’ qualifications to support career development in environmental management, forestry, administration, finance, communication, ICT, and social sciences.

Successful applicants will receive a monthly stipend of R7 860.50 for the duration of 24 months while gaining valuable exposure within national government operations.

AVAILABLE PROVINCES

Internship placements are available in:

  • Gauteng
  • Limpopo
  • North West
  • Free State
  • Mpumalanga
  • Eastern Cape
  • KwaZulu-Natal
  • Northern Cape
  • Western Cape

Below are the additional provinces covered and the relevant position streams with their reference numbers.

EASTERN CAPE
  • Communications / Media Studies
    Reference: EC/CMS/01/26
  • Forestry (Ngqeleni Estate)
    Reference: EC/B&C/01/26
  • Forestry (Gomo Forest Estate Office)
    Reference: EC/B&C/02/26
  • Forestry (Keiskammahoek Forest Estate)
    Reference: EC/B&C/03/26
  • Biological Science / Environmental Science
    Reference: EC/B&C/04/26
  • Forestry (Bulembu Estate)
    Reference: EC/B&C/05/26
  • Forestry (Port St Johns Forest Estate)
    Reference: EC/B&C/06/26
  • Forestry (Bomvana Forest Estate)
    Reference: EC/B&C/07/26
  • Forestry (Ntsubane Forest Estate Office)
    Reference: EC/B&C/08/26
  • Forestry (Afromontane Forest Estate)
    Reference: EC/B&C/09/26
  • Forestry Management / Nursery Management
    Reference: EC/FOM/01/26
  • Forestry Management / Nursery Management
    Reference: EC/FOM/02/26
  • Forestry Protection / Fire Protection
    Reference: EC/FOM/03/26
  • Forestry Management / Nursery Management
    Reference: EC/FOM/04/26
  • Public Administration / Business Management
    Reference: EC/FOM/05/26
  • Environmental Science / Forestry / GIS
    Reference: EC/FOM/06/26
  • Environmental Management / Forestry
    Reference: EC/FOM/07/26
  • Forestry / Botany / Nature Conservation
    Reference: EC/FOM/08/26
  • Natural Resource Management / Social Ecology
    Reference: EC/FIM/01/26
  • Public Management / Social Sciences
    Reference: EC/EP/01/26

FREE STATE
  • Information Systems / Information Technology
    Reference: FS/CWM/01/26
  • Forestry (Silviculture / Harvesting / Botany)
    Reference: FS/FOM/01/26
  • Forestry Management
    Reference: FS/FOM/02/26
  • Forestry Sciences / Management
    Reference: FS/FOM/03/26
  • Aquaculture
    Reference: FS/FIM/01/26
  • Environmental Management / Conservation
    Reference: FS/EP/01/26
  • Developmental Studies
    Reference: FS/EP/02/26

GAUTENG
  • Public Management / Governance
    Reference: GP/DM/01/26
  • Journalism / Communications
    Reference: GP/CMS/01/26
  • Contact Centre Management
    Reference: GP/CMS/02/26
  • Information Technology
    Reference: GP/CMS/03/26
  • Computer Science / Systems Development
    Reference: GP/CMS/04/26
  • Public Administration
    Reference: GP/CMS/05/26
  • Office Management
    Reference: GP/CMS/06/26
  • Financial Management
    Reference: GP/CMS/07/26
  • Multimedia
    Reference: GP/CMS/08/26
  • Data Management
    Reference: GP/CMS/09/26
  • IT Infrastructure / Cyber Security
    Reference: GP/CMS/10/26
  • Safety Management / Environmental Health
    Reference: GP/CMS/11/26
  • Operations Management
    Reference: GP/CMS/12/26
  • Public Administration
    Reference: GP/CMS/13/26
  • Social Work / Psychology
    Reference: GP/CMS/14/26
  • Human Resource Management
    Reference: GP/CMS/15/26
  • Occupational Hygiene / Environmental Health
    Reference: GP/CMS/16/26
  • Records Management
    Reference: GP/CMS/17/26
  • Public Management / Commerce
    Reference: GP/CMS/18/26
  • Public Relations / Marketing
    Reference: GP/CMS/19/26
  • Corporate Communications
    Reference: GP/CMS/20/26
  • Environmental Health
    Reference: GP/CMS/21/26
  • Transport & Logistics
    Reference: GP/CMS/22/26
  • Human Resource Management
    Reference: GP/CMS/23/26
  • Environment Education
    Reference: GP/CMS/24/26
  • Human Resource Development
    Reference: GP/CMS/24/26
  • Nature Conservation / Environmental Science
    Reference: GP/B&C/01/26
  • Nature Conservation
    Reference: GP/B&C/02/26
  • Public Administration / Records Management
    Reference: GP/B&C/03/26
  • Environmental Management
    Reference: GP/B&C/04/26
  • Environmental Science
    Reference: GP/B&C/05/26
  • Environmental Sciences (Honours)
    Reference: GP/B&C/06/26
  • Environmental Management
    Reference: GP/B&C/07/26
  • Natural Sciences
    Reference: GP/B&C/08/26
  • Environmental Conservation Science
    Reference: GP/B&C/09/26
  • Environmental Management
    Reference: GP/B&C/10/26
  • Nature Conservation / Wildlife Management
    Reference: GP/B&C/11/26
  • Environmental Science
    Reference: GP/B&C/12/26
  • Botany / Zoology / Geography
    Reference: GP/B&C/13/26
  • Natural Science / Heritage / Conservation
    Reference: GP/B&C/14/26
  • Environmental Ecology / Zoology
    Reference: GP/B&C/15/26
  • Business Administration / Supply Chain
    Reference: GP/FMS/01/26
  • Financial Accounting / Auditing
    Reference: GP/FMS/02/26
  • Financial Accounting
    Reference: GP/FMS/03/26
  • Logistics / Supply Chain
    Reference: GP/FMS/04/26
  • Finance
    Reference: GP/FMS/05/26
  • Public Finance / Accounting
    Reference: GP/FMS/06/26
  • Office Management / Project Management
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/01/26
  • Environmental Science / Climatology
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/02/26
  • Chemical Engineering / Process Engineering
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/03/26
  • International Relations
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/04/26
  • Public Administration / Communications
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/05/26
  • Environmental / Physical Sciences
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/06/26
  • Climate Science / Sustainability
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/07/26
  • Natural Science / Environmental Science
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/08/26
  • Chemical Engineering / GIS
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/09/26
  • Environmental Management / Botany / Zoology
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/10/26
  • Environmental Sciences (Honours)
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/11/26
  • Environmental Engineering / Chemistry
    Reference: GP/CWM/01/26
  • Environmental Science / Waste Management
    Reference: GP/CWM/02/26
  • Public Administration / Office Administration
    Reference: GP/CWM/03/26
  • Office Management / Economics
    Reference: GP/CWM/04/26
  • Business Administration
    Reference: GP/CWM/05/26
  • Environmental Science / Soil Science
    Reference: GP/CWM/06/26
  • Environmental Science / Geography
    Reference: GP/CWM/07/26
  • Environmental Management / Waste Management
    Reference: GP/CWM/08/26
  • Public Administration / Economics
    Reference: GP/CWM/09/26
  • Public Management / Logistics
    Reference: GP/CWM/10/26
  • Environmental Science / Soil Science
    Reference: GP/CWM/11/26
  • Environmental Science / Ecology
    Reference: GP/CWM/12/26
  • Environmental Chemistry / Ecology
    Reference: GP/CWM/13/26
  • Business Administration / Project Management
    Reference: GP/CWM/14/26
  • Forestry Management
    Reference: GP/FOM/01/26
  • Public Administration / Supply Chain
    Reference: GP/FOM/02/26
  • Forestry (Silviculture / Ecology)
    Reference: GP/FOM/03/26
  • Fire Management / Disaster Risk
    Reference: GP/FOM/04/26
  • GIS / Cartography / Remote Sensing
    Reference: GP/FOM/05/26

LIMPOPO
  • Public Administration / Governance
    Reference: GP/DM/01/26
  • Environmental Management / Environmental Science
    Reference: GP/B&C/04/26
  • Nature Conservation / Environmental Science
    Reference: GP/B&C/01/26
  • Forestry Management / Social Forestry
    Reference: GP/FOM/01/26
  • GIS / Cartography / Remote Sensing
    Reference: GP/FOM/05/26

MPUMALANGA
  • Forestry Management / Fire Management
    Reference: EC/FOM/03/26
  • Environmental Science / Forestry / GIS
    Reference: EC/FOM/06/26
  • Environmental Management / Forestry Protection
    Reference: EC/FOM/07/26
  • Nature Conservation / Botany / Forestry
    Reference: EC/FOM/08/26

NORTH WEST
  • Public Management / Social Sciences
    Reference: EC/EP/01/26
  • Natural Resource Management / Social Ecology
    Reference: EC/FIM/01/26
  • Environmental Management / Conservation
    Reference: FS/EP/01/26

KWAZULU-NATAL
  • Communications / Media Studies
    Reference: EC/CMS/01/26
  • Forestry / Forest Management
    Reference: EC/B&C/01/26 – EC/B&C/09/26
  • Environmental Management / Forestry
    Reference: EC/FOM/07/26

NORTHERN CAPE
  • Environmental Science / Climatology
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/02/26
  • Environmental Engineering / Chemistry
    Reference: GP/CWM/01/26
  • Environmental Science / Waste Management
    Reference: GP/CWM/02/26

WESTERN CAPE
  • Environmental Science / Natural Sciences
    Reference: GP/B&C/08/26
  • Environmental Conservation Science
    Reference: GP/B&C/09/26
  • Environmental Management / Ecology
    Reference: GP/CWM/12/26
  • Climate Science / Sustainability
    Reference: GP/CCAQ/07/26
AVAILABLE INTERNSHIP FIELDS

Opportunities are available in the following study areas:

Environmental & Forestry Fields

  • Forestry
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Management
  • Nature Conservation
  • Climate Science
  • Geography
  • Botany
  • Zoology
  • Ecology
  • Waste Management
  • Natural Resource Management

Administration & Management Fields

  • Public Administration
  • Public Management
  • Office Management
  • Business Administration
  • Project Management
  • Records Management
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics Management

Finance Fields

  • Financial Management
  • Accounting
  • Auditing
  • Public Finance

Human Resource & Social Sciences

  • Human Resource Management
  • Human Resource Development
  • Social Work
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Criminology
  • Development Studies

Communication & Media Fields

  • Journalism
  • Public Relations
  • Marketing
  • Multimedia
  • Communication Science
  • Corporate Communications

Information Technology Fields

  • Information Technology
  • Computer Science
  • Software Development
  • Web Development
  • Database Development
  • Cyber Security
  • Data Analytics
  • Information Systems

Engineering & Technical Fields

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Process Engineering
  • GIS & Remote Sensing
  • Safety Management
  • Occupational Health and Safety
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must:

  • Be South African citizens
  • Hold a relevant National Diploma / B-Tech / Advanced Diploma / Degree / Honours / Postgraduate qualification
  • Be unemployed graduates
  • Be willing to relocate if required
  • Apply using the correct reference number for the relevant post
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Applicants must submit:

  • Completed and signed new Z83 application form
  • Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Important:

  • Submit documents as one combined PDF attachment
  • Clearly indicate the reference number in the email subject line
  • Applications submitted as images or JPEG files will not be accepted
APPLICATION PROCESS
APPLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL PROVINCES

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)

Download the Internship Programme 2026–2028 Advert (PDF) to view full position details, reference numbers, requirements, and application instructions before submitting an application.

Applications must be submitted using the correct reference number for the post and province. Submit a signed Z83 form and CV only as one PDF attachment.

GAUTENG

Centres: Pretoria – Environment House

Email Applications:
[email protected]

LIMPOPO

Centres: Regional Inland Offices

Email Applications:
[email protected]

NORTH WEST

Centres: Regional Inland Offices

Email Applications:
[email protected]

FREE STATE

Centres: Bloemfontein / Qwaqwa Nursery / Gariep Dam

Email Applications:
[email protected]

MPUMALANGA

Centres: Regional Inland Forestry Offices

Email Applications:
[email protected]

EASTERN CAPE

Centres: Bisho, Ngqeleni Estate, Gomo Forest Estate, Keiskammahoek, Port St Johns, Ntsubane, Bomvana, Afromontane

Email Applications:
[email protected]
EC-B&[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

KWAZULU-NATAL

Centres: Pietermaritzburg Regional Office

Submission Address:
185 Langalibalele Street
Old Mutual Building, 5th Floor
Pietermaritzburg

Email Applications:
Use relevant coastal reference-number email submission channel

NORTHERN CAPE

Centres: Coastal Regional Offices

Submission Address:
Director: Integrated Human Resource Management
Private Bag X4390
Cape Town, 8000

WESTERN CAPE

Centres: Cape Town – Foretrust Building

Submission Address:
Foretrust Building
No. 3 Martin Hammerschlag Way
Foreshore, Cape Town

Email Applications:
Submit using the correct reference-number email listed per post

PRETORIA (INLAND CENTRAL SUBMISSIONS OPTION)

Applications may also be submitted to:

Director-General
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Private Bag X447
Pretoria, 0001

Hand Delivery Address:
Environment House
Corner Soutpansberg & Steve Biko Road
Arcadia, Pretoria

Applications may also be submitted via the relevant email address linked to the specific post reference number.

SELECTION PROCESS

Shortlisted candidates will be subject to:

  • Criminal record verification
  • Qualification verification
  • Creditworthiness checks
  • Reference checks
  • Citizenship verification
  • Security vetting

Certified copies of qualifications, ID, and supporting documents will be required before or on the interview date.

IMPORTANT NOTES
  • Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA
  • Preference may be given to designated groups in line with employment equity targets
  • Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
  • Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates only
  • If no response is received within three (3) months after the closing date, consider your application unsuccessful
  • Submission of an application implies consent to processing of personal information in terms of POPIA Act 4 of 2013
CLOSING DATE : 31 March 2026 at 16:00

Late applications will not be considered.