CAPACITY BUILDING INTERNS (X3 INTERNS)

The Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent, commonly known as MISA, is offering three capacity building internship positions at its head office in Centurion as part of the 2026 to 2028 graduate internship programme. This opportunity is aimed at unemployed South African graduates who wish to gain meaningful workplace experience within the public service while contributing to MISA’s broader mandate of supporting and strengthening local government. The interns will be placed within the Capacity Building Directorate, a unit dedicated to developing the skills, systems and institutional capacity of municipalities. Through this placement, successful candidates will be exposed to the practical workings of a national public entity and will play a supporting role in initiatives that help local government perform more effectively.

To be considered for this internship, applicants must hold a National Diploma at NQF level 6 or a Degree at NQF level 7 in Human Resource Management, Human Resource Development, Public Management, or a related field specialising in Local Government. This is a graduate internship, so formal work experience is not required; however, candidates must be unemployed and must not have previously participated in any internship programme within the public service, as this opportunity is strictly a once-off experience per qualification. Shortlisted candidates will be subjected to personnel suitability checks, including verification of criminal records, citizenship, financial records and qualifications. Only shortlisted applicants will be asked to submit certified copies of their qualifications and proof of permanent residence.

The core duties of the capacity building interns will revolve around supporting the directorate’s daily operations and project activities. Interns can expect to assist with the coordination and administration of capacity building programmes aimed at municipal officials, help prepare training materials and reports, maintain records and databases, and support stakeholder engagement efforts. They may also be involved in research, monitoring and evaluation tasks that inform the directorate’s interventions. The internship is structured to provide practical exposure to how public sector capacity building is planned, delivered and assessed, giving graduates a solid foundation for a career in local government support, human resource development or public management.

Successful candidates will be expected to enter into an employment contract and a performance agreement within three months of appointment, and to complete a financial interest declaration within one month of appointment and annually thereafter. Applications must be submitted with the relevant reference number and must include a fully completed and signed Z83 form, obtainable from the Department of Public Service and Administration website, along with a comprehensive CV and contactable referees. Certified copies of qualifications are not required at the application stage, only for shortlisted candidates. Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted applicants, and those who have not been contacted within three months of the closing date should regard their application as unsuccessful. This internship offers a valuable entry point into the public service for graduates eager to contribute to local government capacity building.