The Department of Transport has opened a big graduate and student intake for its 2027/2029 internship programme, and it stretches far wider than the transport degrees you’d expect. From administration and finance to IT, human resources, aviation, maritime, rail and transport planning, there’s a place on the list for a surprising range of qualifications.
Graduate interns will earn a stipend of R8,174.75, while separate Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placements pay R6,131 a month. The posts are based at the department’s Pretoria Head Office, and applications close on 9 October 2026.
Two different tracks, two different stipends
The programme splits into two main streams. Graduate internships run for 24 months and pay R8,174.75 — and the department is clear that the exact figure depends on your qualification, with the higher qualification attracting the higher stipend. The Work Integrated Learning placements are shorter at 18 months and aimed at N6 students who need workplace training, paying R6,131 a month.
| Programme | Duration | Stipend | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Internship | 24 months | R8,174.75 | Graduates with relevant qualifications |
| Public Transport Graduate Internship | 24 months | R8,174.75 | Graduates in transport/planning fields |
| Work Integrated Learning | 18 months | R6,131/month | N6 students needing workplace training |
Don’t assume this is only for transport graduates
Here’s the part worth pausing on: the field list is long. Depending on the post, the department wants graduates from public administration, political science, international relations, accounting, financial management, internal auditing, IT, computer science, informatics, human resource management, industrial psychology, law, environmental management, geography and GIS, civil and mechanical engineering, transport management, transport economics, logistics, town and regional planning, maritime studies, aviation management, economics and statistics.
But breadth doesn’t mean everything is open to everyone. Each post has its own qualification requirement and its own reference number, so you’ll need to search the list by what you actually studied rather than applying blindly.
Where the graduate posts sit
Administration and public sector. Two Administration Intern posts under the Office of the Ministry want a bachelor’s degree in fields like public administration, political science, international relations, public affairs or management (ref DOT/GRAD/2026/01). There’s also a Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Cluster Coordinators post for degree or National Diploma holders in public management, administration, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation.
Finance and supply chain. A Financial Administration Intern post under the CFO’s branch takes a National Diploma, Advanced Diploma or degree in financial management, accounting, public finance or cost and management accounting. Two Supply Chain Management Intern posts are open to supply chain, logistics or procurement graduates.
IT. Three technology posts sit in Corporate Services — Business Intelligence (Database Administration), IT Infrastructure, and Business Systems (Web Development). They ask for Grade 12 plus a National Diploma or degree in IT, computer science or informatics, or a relevant postgraduate qualification.
Human resources. Several HR posts are on offer: Labour Relations, Recruitment and Selection, HR Administration, and HR Development and PMDS. The last of these has four positions. Requirements span HR management, industrial psychology, labour relations, labour law and industrial relations.
Other corporate services. This branch also covers Employee Health and Wellness (with SHERQ), Organisational Development, Change Management, GIS, Travel Services, Facilities Management and Environmental Coordination — with requirements varying a lot from post to post. GIS applicants, for instance, need geographic information systems, geography, cartography or geomatics, while Environmental Coordination looks for environmental management, environmental science, town planning or a transport-related field.
Transport and road safety. The Road Transport Research post needs a National Diploma in Civil Engineering. The Road Safety Intern post accepts road traffic safety management, traffic policing, civil engineering, transport management or planning, and data analytics. A Road Accident and Incident Investigation post wants civil or mechanical engineering, or road crash investigation.
Maritime. Two posts: Maritime Security (maritime security management, maritime studies or a relevant postgraduate field) and Maritime Industry Development (maritime studies, shipping and logistics, transport management, logistics or economics). Both are 24 months at Pretoria Head Office.
Aviation. Three posts under Civil Aviation — Multilateral Affairs, Air Transport, and Industry Development and Airfreight — covering air transport management, transport management, logistics, economics, aeronautical studies, flight dispatch and aviation management.
Rail. Four posts across the Rail Transport branch: Infrastructure and Industry Development, Service Delivery (Operations), Safety Regulation, and Policy and Strategic Development. Fields include transport management and economics, logistics, engineering, LLB and town and regional planning.
Economics, logistics and integrated planning. The Integrated Transport Planning branch has a Modelling and Macroeconomic Analysis post (economics, econometrics, statistics, transport economics), a Freight Logistics post, and a Black Economic Empowerment post.
Governance and public-entity finance. The Soc-Gap branch lists a Public Entity Finance post and a Governance post, both 24 months on the graduate stipend.
A note on the province-named town planning posts
The Public Transport stream includes two town planning posts each linked to Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Western Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. Here’s the catch: despite the provincial names, the vacancy information lists the centre as Pretoria Head Office. Read the specific post and reference carefully — don’t assume the job is in the province named in the title. These Public Transport applications go to [email protected].
The N6 Work Integrated Learning posts
Separate from the graduate track, these 18-month placements pay R6,131 a month and are aimed at N6 certificate holders:
- Administration (DOT/WIL/2026/1) — 4 posts — N6 in office administration, public management, administration, public administration or business management
- HR Management and Development (DOT/WIL/2026/2) — 5 posts — N6 in HR management or personnel management
- Legal Services (DOT/WIL/2026/3) — 1 post — N6 in legal services or legal practice
- Financial Administration (DOT/WIL/2026/4) — 2 posts — N6 in financial administration or financial management
- Administration, CFO’s branch (DOT/WIL/2026/5) — 2 posts — N6 in financial administration or financial management
- Maritime Transport Administrative Support (DOT/WIL/2026/6) — 1 post — N6 in public management, public administration or business management
How to apply
Use the new Z83 application form and attach a comprehensive CV. Importantly, if you’re applying for more than one field of study, the department wants a separate Z83 and set of documents for each field, sent to the relevant address.
Send applications to the right channel for your stream:
- Graduate internships: [email protected]
- Public Transport stream: [email protected]
- Work Integrated Learning: [email protected]
Postal and hand-delivery options are also available — Private Bag X193, Pretoria 0001, or hand-delivered to 159 Forum Building, corner Struben and Bosman Streets, Pretoria. Always state the post and reference number you’re applying for.
At this first stage you only need the Z83, your CV, and the post and reference number. Proof of qualifications and other supporting documents get requested from shortlisted candidates during the interview process, so keep your originals handy in case you’re called. All appointments are subject to verification — qualifications, experience, citizenship, references and security vetting.
One eligibility rule to take seriously
If you’ve already done a Department of Transport internship, you’ll be disqualified. And if you’re found to have done an internship at another government department or state entity, your appointment will be terminated. Be honest about any previous internship participation — it’s not worth the risk.
Closing date and follow-up
The closing date is 9 October 2026. The department expects a heavy response and says it will only correspond with shortlisted candidates. If you haven’t heard back within six months of the closing date, treat your application as unsuccessful.
Before you hit send
- Find the exact post that matches your qualification, then note its reference number.
- Use the correct email address for that programme.
- Submit a separate Z83 for each field you apply to.
- Keep copies of everything, and watch the contact details you supplied.
And a standard warning: don’t pay anyone to “secure” a Department of Transport internship. Government posts are applied for free through the official channels in the notice — anyone asking for money is running a scam.
Quick summary
- Graduate internship: 24 months, R8,174.75, Pretoria Head Office, closes 9 October 2026
- Public Transport internship: 24 months, R8,174.75, centre listed as Pretoria Head Office, apply to [email protected]
- Work Integrated Learning: 18 months, R6,131/month, N6 level, apply to [email protected]
Source: Based on the Department of Transport Internship Programme 2027/2029 and Work Integrated Learning vacancy information supplied for publication, including the individual post references, qualifications, stipends, application channels and closing date.
Editorial policy: Our careers reporting aims to help South African graduates and students understand public-sector opportunities before applying. We organise long government vacancy notices into practical information while keeping the stated requirements intact. We don’t invent salaries, qualifications, deadlines or eligibility rules, and where different streams use different submission addresses, we separate them clearly to keep applications from going to the wrong channel.
Corrections policy: If a factual error is identified, we check it against the relevant government vacancy notice or another authoritative source and correct confirmed mistakes promptly, flagging significant corrections where appropriate.
Disclaimer: A government internship vacancy doesn’t guarantee selection, placement or permanent employment. Applicants are subject to the department’s recruitment, verification and security-vetting processes. Verify the latest vacancy information and make sure you use the correct reference number, Z83 form and application email before submitting.
Closing date: 9 October 2026.
