Department of Land Reform and Rural Development Internships 2026-2028: Your Path to Public Service Experience

Department of Land Reform and Rural Development Internships 2026-2028: Gain Experience in Various Fields

The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development (DLRRD) is offering a comprehensive internship programme for graduates across South Africa. This 24-month opportunity aims to provide valuable work experience in a wide range of fields. Applications are open to qualifying graduates who wish to develop their careers within the public service.

Application Closing Date: 30 November 2026 at 16:00
Location: All nine provinces and National Office, South Africa
Programme Duration: 24 months
Monthly Stipend: R8 174.75, depending on qualification level
Opportunity Type: Internship

About the DLRRD Internship Programme

The DLRRD Internship Programme is designed to equip graduates with practical skills and exposure to the public sector. This initiative provides a structured learning environment for individuals to apply their academic knowledge in real-world scenarios. The programme covers a broad spectrum of disciplines, allowing graduates to find opportunities that align with their specific qualifications.

This internship is focused on skills development and aims to build a pipeline of future professionals for the land reform and rural development sector. Participants will gain hands-on experience, contributing to the department’s mission while advancing their own professional growth. It is an excellent entry point for those looking to start their careers in government.

About the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development

The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development is a government department in South Africa responsible for land reform policies and programmes. Its mandate includes addressing historical land inequalities, promoting sustainable land use, and supporting rural development initiatives. The department plays a critical role in transforming land ownership and improving the lives of citizens in rural areas.

The DLRRD operates across all nine provinces, working to implement land redistribution, restitution, and tenure reform programmes. It also focuses on providing support and resources to rural communities to foster economic development and improve living conditions.

Available Internship Fields

The DLRRD offers a diverse range of internship opportunities, catering to graduates from various academic backgrounds. Applicants must apply for the field that best matches their qualification.

• Agriculture: Including Crop Production, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management, Agricultural Extension, Agribusiness Management, Rural Development, Development Studies, Animal Production, and Project Management.
• Animal Production / General Agriculture: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Agriculture or Animal Production.
• Animal Nutrition / Livestock Production / Animal Breeding and Genetics: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Animal Production or a related field.
• Business / Public Management: Including Business Management, Economics, and Public Management.
• Community Development: Requiring qualifications in Social Science, Development Studies, Public Administration, Public Management, or Project Management.
• Disaster and Risk Management: Including Ecology, Environmental Science, Geography, and Disaster Risk Management.
• Disaster Management: Requiring studies in Ecology, Environmental Science, Geography, Disaster Risk Management, or Botany.
• Disaster / Risk / Environmental Training and Awareness: Including Environmental Science, Geography, and Disaster Risk Management.
• Economics / Auditing / Accounting: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Finance, Auditing, or Accounting.
• Property Management: Including Property Management, Property Law, Real Estate, Property Studies, Public Management, Law, LLB, Regional Planning, and Social Sciences.
• Town / Urban and Regional Planning: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Town Planning, Urban Planning, Regional Planning, or Town and Regional Planning.
• Geographical Information Science / Systems: Including Geoinformatics, Geography, Cartography, Geomatics, Geographic Information Systems, Computer Science, and Surveying.
• Building / Civil Engineering: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Building Civil Engineering or a related Engineering qualification.
• Civil / Geomatics / Information Engineering and Quantity Surveying: Including Civil Engineering, Geomatics, Information Engineering, Quantity Surveying, and Architecture.
• Finance: Including Accounting, Financial Accounting, Cost and Management Accounting, Financial Management, Public Finance, Auditing, Public Management, and Internal Auditing.
• Human Resource Management and Administration: Including Human Resource Management, Public Management, Public Administration, Management of Training, Labour Relations, Industrial Psychology, and Public Affairs.
• Project Management: Including Project Management, Public Management, IT Project Management, Development Studies, Construction Management, Infrastructure Development, Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Administration, and BSc Agriculture.
• Records Management: Including Information Management, Records Management, Archives Management, Information Science, Public Administration, and Public Management.
• Human Resources and Records Management Services: Including Human Resource Management, Public Management, Public Administration, Human Resource Development, and Management of Training.
• Knowledge, Information and Records Management: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Information Studies, Information Science, or Knowledge Management.
• Legal Administration: Including Law, LLB, BProc, Legal Secretary, and Paralegal.
• Legal Research and Interpretation / Land Reform Law / Land Administration: Including Humanities, Social Science, and Law.
• Communications / Journalism / Public Relations / Marketing / Media Studies: Including Communication, Public Relations, Media Studies, Journalism, and Marketing.
• Language Practice: Including Language Practice, Linguistics, Translation Studies, Communications, and related fields.
• Information Technology: Including Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Development, Computer Systems, Engineering, Information Systems, Information Management, and Business Information.
• Information Management: Including Information Science, Information Management, Records Management, Archives and Records Management, and Library Information Science.
• Office Administration / Management: Including Administration Management, Business Administration, Public Management, Public Relations, Social Science, Office Administration, Management Assistant, and Office Management and Technology.
• Environmental Management / Natural Science: Including Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Geography, and Environmental Planning.
• Security Services: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Security Management, Policing, or Police Science.
• Employee Health and Wellness: Including Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Industrial Psychology, and BA Honours in Social Behavioural Studies.
• Examination: Including Law, LLB, and Advanced Diploma in Estate Planning Administration.
• Supply Chain Management: Including Public Management, Public Administration, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, and Purchasing Management.
• Procurement: Including Public Management, Public Administration, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, and Purchasing Management.
• Contract Management: Including Public Management, Public Administration, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, and Purchasing Management.
• Human Resource Development: Including Human Resource Management, Public Management, Public Administration, Human Resource Management and Development, and Management of Training.
• Project Management / Rural Development: Including Project Management, Development Studies, Community Development, and Social Science.
• Project Management and Land Acquisition: Including Project Management, Development Studies, Community Development, Social Science, Agricultural Science, and Agricultural Economics.
• Project Management and Research: Including Public Management, Public Administration, Project Management, Development Studies, Community Development, Social Science, Agricultural Science, and Agricultural Economics.
• Tenure Reform: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Social Science or Human Sciences.
• Tenure Reform Implementation: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Law or an LLB.
• Spatial Planning: Including Town and Regional Planning and Urban and Regional Planning.
• Strategic Land Development: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Agriculture or Agricultural Economics.
• Strategic Land Acquisition: Requiring a BSc in Agriculture or a relevant equivalent qualification.
• Surveying: Requiring a Bachelor in Geomatics specialising in Surveying, a National Diploma in Surveying, or registration with the South African Geomatics Council.
• Survey / Geographic Information Systems: Including Surveying and GIS.
• Remote Sensing: Requiring a BSc Degree in Geographic Information, Remote Sensing, or a related qualification.
• Technology Engineering / Natural Science / Environmental Science: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Technology Engineering, Natural Science, or Environmental Science.
• Videography: Including Video Production, Cinematography, and Film Making.
• Graphic Design: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Graphic Design.
• Website and Intranet: Requiring a National Diploma or Degree in Digital Communication or Marketing.
• Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities: Including Social Science, Community Development Studies, Disability Studies, and Public Management.
• Youth Development: Requiring a Diploma or Degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, or Project Management.

What the Internship Offers

Successful interns will gain significant benefits during their 24-month placement with the DLRRD. This programme is designed to provide a comprehensive learning experience.

• Workplace Experience: Gain practical, hands-on experience in a government department.
• Structured Training: Participate in learning activities designed to enhance your skills.
• Monthly Stipend: Receive a stipend of R8 174.75 per month, which may vary based on qualification level.
• Exposure to the Public Sector: Understand the operations and functions of a government department.
• Career Development: Develop professional skills and build a foundation for future employment.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals in various fields within the department.

Programme Duration and Location

This internship programme spans a duration of 24 months. Opportunities are available across all nine provinces of South Africa, as well as at the National Office in Pretoria. Specific locations for each field are detailed within the available internship fields section.

Minimum Requirements

To be eligible for the DLRRD Internship Programme, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a South African citizen.
• Meet the academic requirements for the specific internship field applied for.
• Be 35 years old or younger.
• Not have previously served as an intern or contract worker in the Public Service.
• Not have previously participated in the DLRRD internship programme.
• Applicants who have previously been part of this internship programme will be disqualified.

Competencies Required

While specific competencies may vary by field, general skills beneficial for this internship include:

• Strong communication skills.
• Basic computer literacy.
• Interpersonal skills for working with diverse teams.
• A willingness to learn and adapt.
• An ability to work under pressure.
• A professional attitude and self-motivation.
• Attention to detail.

Who Should Apply?

This internship programme is ideal for unemployed South African graduates who have recently completed their studies and are seeking to gain practical experience in their field of qualification. It is particularly suited for individuals interested in public service and contributing to land reform and rural development initiatives. If you are eager to learn, develop your professional skills, and understand government operations, this opportunity is for you.

Required Documents

Applicants must prepare the following documents for their application:

• A completed Z83 application form.
• A comprehensive CV.
• Certified copies of all relevant qualifications and certificates.
• A certified copy of your South African Identity Document.
• An academic transcript or academic record.

It is crucial to clearly indicate the field of study or internship being applied for on your application. If you are applying for more than one internship field, you must submit a separate Z83 application form and supporting documents for each field.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted using the official Z83 Application for Employment form. Applications can be submitted by courier or hand-delivered to the relevant provincial or national office.

Delivery Addresses:

• Eastern Cape: Corner Moore & Coutts Streets, Ocean Terrace View, Block H, Quigney, 5209
• Free State: 136 Charlotte Maxeke Street, SA Eagle Building, Bloemfontein, 9300
• Gauteng: 524 Stanza Bopape Street, Corner Steve Biko Street, Sancardia Building, 6th Floor, Arcadia, 0083
• Limpopo: 61 Biccard Street, Polokwane, 0700
• North West: Corner James Mokoka and Sekame Drive, West Gallery, Mmabatho, 2735
• Northern Cape: New Public Building, Corner Knight and Stead Street, 11th Floor, Kimberley, 8301
• Western Cape: Foreshore Place, 2 Riebeek Street, Cape Town, 8001
• Mpumalanga: 17 Van Rensburg Street, Bateleur Office Park, Nelspruit, 1300
• KwaZulu-Natal: 270 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg, 3200
• National Office: 600 Lilian Ngoyi Street, Berea Park, Pretoria, 0002

Internships linked to the Office of the Chief Registrar of Deeds and Deeds Registries can also be submitted through the official online application portal.
Click here to apply for DLRRD Deeds Registry Internship Opportunities
Applicants may also hand-deliver applications to the relevant Deeds Registry office.

Important Notes

Please take note of the following important application information:

• A separate Z83 form must be submitted for every internship field you apply for.
• Applicants must be 35 years old or younger.
• Individuals who have previously served as Public Service interns may not qualify.
• Applicants who have previously participated in the DLRRD internship programme will be disqualified.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Any false or fraudulent qualifications submitted will be reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• The Department reserves the right not to fill any advertised opportunity.
• Applicants who have not been contacted within six months after the closing date should consider their applications unsuccessful.

Closing Date

The closing date for applications is 30 November 2026 at 16:00. Applicants must ensure that their complete application reaches the relevant office before the specified closing date and time.

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