NHLS Graduate Internship Programme 2026 – 35 Open Spots for Unemployed South African Graduates
If you’ve finished a university course and are looking for a real‑world learning experience, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) is launching its Graduate Internship Programme for 2026. The program offers two years of hands‑on work across different health, science and office roles. You’ll be paid a monthly stipend, receive guidance from experienced mentors, and gain the skills that will help you land a job after the internship ends. The deadline to sign up is 5 December 2025, and the internship runs from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2028.
Why NHLS Might Be a Good Fit
NHLS is South Africa’s biggest health testing organization, so you’ll see how medical labs, public health projects and health data systems work across the country. The internship is split across many regions – Gauteng, KwaZulu‑Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State / North West, Limpopo / Mpumalanga, Western / Northern Cape – and a couple of special institutes called NICD and NIOH. If you want to see how a large public service organization runs, this is a great way to start.
Who Can Apply?
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 – 35 |
| Citizenship | South African |
| Employment status | Must be unemployed |
| Education | Advanced Diploma (NQF 6), Degree, Honours or Master’s in a relevant field |
| Previous internship | None in a public service internship |
| English | Good speaking and writing skills |
| Computer | Comfortable with common office software |
| Driver’s licence | Helpful if you need to travel |
You also need to show teamwork, reliability, good organisation and a willingness to learn.
Postings by Region
Below are the roles available, the department they belong to, the reference number you’ll use in your application and the qualification you need. Each region has its own mix of finance, HR, IT and other positions.
Corporate Division – Gauteng
- Communications – 1 post: Graphic Arts or Multimedia Design (ADV. Diploma) – CORP‑COMM1‑001‑11/25
- Communications – 1 post: Web Design or Information Management (ADV. Diploma or Degree) – CORP‑COMM2‑001‑11/25
- Human Resources – 2 posts: HRM or HRD (ADV. Diploma, BTech or BCom) – CORP‑HR‑001‑11/25
- IT (Microsoft) – 1 post: IT Diploma (ADV.) – CORP‑ITM‑001‑11/25
- IT (Networks) – 1 post: Networking Diploma (ADV.) – CORP‑ITN‑001‑11/25
- IT (Unix) – 1 post: IT Diploma + Linux Certificate (ADV.) – CORP‑ITU‑001‑11/25
- Risk & Internal Audit – 4 posts: Internal Auditing (ADV. Diploma or BCom) – CORP‑RI‑001‑11/25
- Logistics – 1 post: Transport Management & Logistics (BCom Honours) – CORP‑LOG1‑001‑11/25
- Logistics – 1 post: Industrial Engineering / Project Management (BTech) – CORP‑LOG2‑001‑11/25
Eastern Cape
- Finance – 1 post: Accounting (ADV. Diploma or Degree) – EC‑FIN‑001‑11/25
- Human Resources – 2 posts: HRM or HRD (ADV. Diploma, BTech or BCom) – EC‑HR‑001‑11/25
- IT – 1 post: IT (ADV. Diploma, BTech or Degree) – EC‑IT‑001‑11/25
Free State & North West
- Procurement – 1 post: Procurement (BCom or ADV. Diploma) – FSNW‑PROC‑001‑11/25
Gauteng Region
- Finance – 1 post: Procurement (BCom or ADV. Diploma) – GAU‑FIN‑001‑11/25
- Office of Area Manager – 1 post: Quantity Surveying / Building Engineering (BSc Honours) – GAU‑AM‑001‑11/25
- Human Resources – 2 posts: Warehousing / SCM / Logistics (ADV. Diploma) – GAU‑HR‑001‑11/25
KwaZulu‑Natal
- Finance – 1 post: Purchasing & Supply Chain Management (ADV. Diploma) – KZN‑FIN‑001‑11/25
- Human Resources – 2 posts: HRM or HRD (ADV. Diploma, BTech or BCom) – KZN‑HR‑001‑11/25
Limpopo / Mpumalanga
- Human Resources – 2 posts: HRM or HRD (ADV. Diploma, BTech or BCom) – LIMP‑HR‑001‑11/25
- Training – 1 post: HRM or HRD (ADV. Diploma, BTech or BCom) – LIMP‑TRA‑001‑11/25
- Finance – 1 post: Finance (BCom) – LIMP‑FIN‑001‑11/25
NICD – National Institute for Communicable Diseases (Gauteng)
- Centre for Emerging Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases – 1 post: Business Administration (Bachelor) – NICD‑CEZPD‑001‑11/25
NIOH – National Institute for Occupational Health (Gauteng)
- Information Technology – 1 post: IT (ADV. Diploma or Degree) – NIOH‑IT‑001‑11/25
- Finance – 1 post: Purchasing & Supply Chain or Accounting (ADV. Diploma) – NIOH‑FIN‑001‑11/25
- Human Resources – 1 post: HRM or HRD (ADV. Diploma, BTech or BCom) – NIOH‑HR‑001‑11/25
Western & Northern Cape
- Human Resources – 2 posts: HRM or HRD (ADV. Diploma, BTech or BCom) – WCNC‑HR‑001‑11/25
How to Apply
- Choose the post that matches your qualifications and the region where you want to work.
- Send an email to the regional contact listed below.
- Make sure your email subject line reads: “Reference Number – Position Title” (for example, “CORP‑COMM1‑001‑11/25 – Communications Intern”).
- Attach all required documents in certified form.
- Complete every part of the application – incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application links:
- Apply for the NHLS Graduate Internship Programme 2026 – click here to go to the application page.
Contact Information by Region
| Region | Contact Person | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Division (Gauteng) | Corporate2@nhls.ac.za | Ms Sesethu Bhabha / Mr Lunga Mndebele | 011 386 6187 |
| Eastern Cape | Ecrecruitment@nhls.ac.za | Ms Lindokuhle Mbele / Ms Phumzile Mbilini / Mr Funda Nobatyi | 047 502 4192 / 041 395 6162 |
| Free State & North West | FSNW.recruitment1@nhls.ac.za | Ms Nomusa Sithole | 066 376 6372 |
| Gauteng Region | Gaucov1.Recruitment@nhls.ac.za | Mr Michael Ramalepe | 011 489 9775 |
| KwaZulu‑Natal | kznrecuitment@nhls.ac.za | Mr Shaun Govender / Ms Promise Mncube / Mr Calvin Naidoo / Ms Stacey Wilkins | 031 327 6768 |
| Limpopo/Mpumalanga | LIMPRegion@nhls.ac.za | Ms Marcia Nxumalo / Ms Jeaneth Masibigiri | 015 296 3910 |
| NICD (Gauteng) | kgaogelom@nicd.ac.za | Ms Kgaogelo Mkwanazi | 011 386 6090 |
| NIOH (Gauteng) | ketsitsengm@nioh.ac.za | Ms Ketsitseng Maseko | 011 712 6528 |
| Western & Northern Cape | Asamkele.gonose@nhls.ac.za | Mr Asamkele Gonose |
Need a Quick Summary?
- Program: NHLS Graduate Internship 2026
- Posts: 35 across South Africa and two institutes
- Duration: 2 years (Mar 2026 – Feb 2028)
- Pay: Monthly stipend based on level
- Apply by: 5 Dec 2025
If you’re ready to jump into a professional environment and grow your skills, grab this chance. Fill out the application, send your documents to the right email, and you could be starting a career in health services in a few months. Good luck!