The Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) is inviting unemployed graduates to apply for its 2026/27 Internship Programme, with opportunities available for Internal Audit and Legal Services professionals in Pretoria.
The two vacancies are offered on 24-month contracts with a salary of R98,097 per year. Applications must be submitted via the CPSI’s online e-recruitment system with a stated closing date of 5 October 2026 at 23:59.
The opening is aimed at graduates seeking practical experience after completing their studies. CPSI says the internship programme is designed to expose graduates to work experience that complements their studies or prepares them for entry into the workplace.
CPSI is a government component reporting to the Minister for the Public Service and Administration. Its mandate is to foster innovation and improve effectiveness and efficiency in South Africa’s public service.
CPSI internship opportunities available
The advertisement specifies two positions for the 2026/27 intake:
Intern: Internal Audit — Reference 0003/2026
Intern: Legal Services — Reference 0004/2026
Both positions are based in Pretoria for a 24-month appointment.
The advertised salary for these internships is R98,097 per annum.
1. CPSI Internal Audit Internship
The Internal Audit internship is open to an unemployed graduate with a relevant qualification in internal auditing.
Requirements
Applicants must have:
A Senior Certificate or Grade 12 certificate.
A recognised National Diploma or Degree at NQF Level 6 or 7 in Internal Audit.
Unemployed status.
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Membership of the Siyakhula Student Membership Programme/Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa (IIASA) is listed as an added advantage.
What will the intern do?
The successful candidate will be exposed to various aspects of the internal audit function.
The advertised responsibilities include:
Development of internal audit plans.
Planning of audit projects.
Execution of audit engagements.
Reporting.
Support to audit committees.
Follow-up of audit findings.
The role therefore involves exposure to internal audit work within a public-sector environment rather than general office duties.
Skills CPSI is looking for
The advertisement identifies a range of personal and workplace capabilities, including:
Computer literacy.
Office-management skills.
Teamwork.
Interpersonal skills.
Verbal and written communication.
Client orientation.
Customer focus.
Confidentiality.
A sound work ethic.
Honesty and trustworthiness.
The successful intern must also be able to handle confidential employee information.
2. CPSI Legal Services Internship
The Legal Services internship is open to unemployed graduates with a relevant law qualification.
Requirements
Applicants must have:
A Senior Certificate or Grade 12 certificate.
A recognised NQF Level 7 degree in Law.
Unemployed status.
Practical legal training is listed as an added advantage.
What will the legal intern do?
The position offers exposure to a number of public-sector legal specialities.
According to the vacancy information, duties may include assisting with:
Drafting legal opinions.
Litigation matters.
Contracts.
Service-level agreements.
Interpretation of legislation affecting public administration.
Legal advice relating to public administration legislation.
Public Administration Management Amendment Act and Public Service Act matters.
Regulations linked to public-service legislative reform.
Handbooks, determinations and directives.
Other legislative reform processes.
This makes the position ideal for law graduates with an interest in the government and public administration fields.
Both internships are based in Pretoria
The two positions are based in Pretoria.
Applicants considering this vacancy should be aware of the location requirement because the vacancy information makes it clear that relocation and resettlement costs will not be covered.
The advertisement specifically states that, owing to budget considerations, CPSI is unable to meet travel and subsistence costs associated with the recruitment process or relocation and resettlement costs for shortlisted or successful candidates.
When does the CPSI internship close?
The stated closing date is:
5 October 2026 at 23:59
Applications received after this time will not be considered, according to the advertisement.
Applicants should not leave the submission process until the final hours in case they encounter registration, document-upload or other technical problems.
How to apply for the CPSI internship
Applications must be submitted via the CPSI e-Recruitment platform.
CPSI’s current recruitment system provides an online registration process in which applicants create a profile and capture information, including qualifications, work experience, language proficiency and references. The platform also provides for supporting-document uploads.
The advertisement states that emailed, hand-delivered, posted or couriered applications will not be considered for these positions.
Applicants should therefore use the prescribed online application process rather than submitting a CV directly to a CPSI employee.
What documents should applicants prepare?
The CPSI e-recruitment system indicates that applicants may need to upload supporting documents, such as:
Detailed CV
Identity document
Matric certificate
Relevant qualification certificates
Driver’s licence, where applicable
Professional registration, where applicable
The platform also requires applicants to create a profile containing relevant personal, educational and employment information.
For this particular advertisement, applicants should follow the vacancy’s specific document requirements and make sure that all required information is captured before submitting the application.
Do applicants need to upload a completed Z83 form?
The advertisement specifies instructions regarding the updated Z83.
Applicants are required to enter the information requested on the new Z83 into the CPSI application system. The system will subsequently generate the form.
According to the vacancy notice, applicants are not required to upload a completed and signed new Z83 form.
Applicants should nevertheless make sure that all required information has been entered correctly because incomplete information can lead to an application being disqualified during the selection process.
What happens after applying?
CPSI states that correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates.
Shortlisted applicants may be asked to submit certified copies of their documents before or on the day of the interview following communication from Human Resources.
The selection process can also include a number of checks and assessments.
These include:
A practical exercise.
Integrity or ethical-conduct assessment.
Personnel suitability checks.
Criminal-record verification.
Citizenship or permanent-residency verification.
Financial-record checks.
Qualification and study verification.
Reference checks.
The advertisement also states that applicants may be required to provide consent for access to their social-media accounts.
Applicants should therefore ensure that the information supplied during the application process is accurate and consistent with their supporting documents.
Foreign qualifications must be evaluated
Applicants who obtained qualifications outside South Africa have an added requirement.
The advertisement states that foreign qualifications, including O- and A-level certificates, must be evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) at the applicant’s expense.
Applicants with international qualifications should take this requirement into account before applying.
What happens if you are successful?
A successful candidate will be required to enter into an employment contract and performance agreement within three months of appointment.
The vacancy information also states that the successful candidate must complete a financial-interest declaration within one month of appointment and annually thereafter.
These requirements reflect the public-service environment in which the internship is situated.
CPSI warns applicants about the recruitment process
The CPSI vacancy notice contains a number of important administrative warnings.
Applicants should use the prescribed application channel and make sure that all required information is supplied.
The organisation states that candidates should not expect recruitment-related travel or relocation costs to be covered.
In addition, applicants should be wary of anyone claiming to represent CPSI and asking for money in relation to the internship.
A genuine government internship application should not require an applicant to pay an individual to secure selection.
About the Centre for Public Service Innovation
The Centre for Public Service Innovation is a government component with a mandate focused upon innovation in the public sector.
CPSI says its work involves developing and supporting innovative solutions, promoting innovation within government and helping successful innovations to be learned from and replicated.
Its current organisational information also indicates work covering public-sector innovation, research and development, institutional support and replication.
CPSI’s official address is in Arcadia, Pretoria, and its published contact information lists the organisation’s Pretoria office and general contact details.
Which graduates should consider these internships?
The two vacancies target different academic backgrounds.
Internal Audit: This opportunity is relevant to unemployed graduates with a recognised National Diploma or Degree in Internal Audit at NQF Level 6 or 7.
Legal Services: This opportunity is aimed at unemployed graduates with a recognised NQF Level 7 law degree.
Applicants should not apply for a position merely because they are graduates. The qualification and employment requirements in the vacancy must be fulfilled.
CPSI Internship 2026/27 at a glance
| Position | Reference | Location | Duration | Salary | Minimum qualification |
| ———————- | ——— | ——– | ——— | —————- | —————————————————- |
| Intern: Internal Audit | 0003/2026 | Pretoria | 24 months | R98,097 per year | NQF 6/7 National Diploma or Degree in Internal Audit |
| Intern: Legal Services | 0004/2026 | Pretoria | 24 months | R98,097 per year | NQF 7 Degree in Law |
Closing date: 5 October 2026 at 23:59
Application method: CPSI e-Recruitment only
Employment status: Applicants must be unemployed.
Important checks before submitting your application
Before clicking submit, applicants should make sure that:
Their qualification matches the relevant internship.
They meet unemployed-applicant requirements.
Their personal information is accurate.
Their qualifications and other supporting documents are available.
Their references and contact details are correct.
They have completed all required fields on the e-recruitment system.
They understand that shortlisted candidates may undergo suitability and verification checks.
They understand that CPSI will not cover relocation and resettlement costs.
Their application is submitted before 23:59 on 5 October 2026.
Final word for applicants
The CPSI 2026/27 Internship Programme offers two Pretoria-based opportunities for unemployed graduates in Internal Audit and Legal Services.
Both positions offer 24-month contracts with a salary of R98,097 per year, while the qualification requirements differ according to the field.
The application process is particularly important: CPSI requires applications for these posts to be submitted via its online recruitment platform, and late applications will not be considered.
Graduates should carefully check the requirements, prepare their supporting information and submit via the official CPSI system before the closing time.
Editorial Policy
We publish employment and career information for South African readers using information from employers, government institutions and other identifiable sources. We aim to distinguish between verified vacancy details and explanatory information and do not present employment opportunities as guarantees of selection or employment.
Where vacancy requirements or closing dates can change, readers should verify the latest information with the organisation responsible for the post.
Sources and Verification
The vacancy details in this article are based on the CPSI 2026/27 internship advertisement supplied for this report and were checked against the current CPSI website and its official e-recruitment platform. CPSI’s website confirms its status as a government component and provides information about its mandate, while its recruitment platform provides the current online application process.
Applicants should use the official CPSI recruitment platform for the current application process.
Corrections Policy
If a factual error is identified, we review the information against the relevant official vacancy or authoritative source. Where a correction is warranted, we update the article to ensure that readers have the most accurate information available.
Disclaimer
This is an independent information platform and is not affiliated with the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI), the South African government or any government department.
We do not recruit applicants, guarantee interviews or guarantee appointment. Applicants should use the official CPSI application system, verify vacancy information before applying and never pay an individual to secure a government internship.
