POTCHEFSTROOM – The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), in partnership with Northwest University (NWU), has officially concluded a highly successful three-year internship program that has placed 100 graduates across 22 municipalities in the Northwest Province on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.
The milestone was celebrated during a formal Certification Ceremony held at the NWU Potchefstroom Campus.
Launched on 3 July 2023, the joint initiative represents a major stride in the government’s broader commitment to combat youth unemployment through practical, workplace-based learning.
Launched on 3 July 2023, the joint initiative represents a major stride in the government’s broader commitment to combat youth unemployment through practical, workplace-based learning.
Speaking at the ceremony, COGTA Head of Department (HOD) Dr Ben Bole praised the initiative for delivering on its core mandate. He highlighted the programme’s immense success in providing participants with “valuable workplace skills and experience” designed to smoothly transition graduates from higher education into the professional workforce.
The programme cast a wide net, equipping graduates from diverse academic disciplines with the practical tools needed for sustainable employment. Participating fields included Commerce, Financial Management, Public Administration, Built Environment, Information Technology, and Environmental Sciences.
NWU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bismark Tyobeka, extended his gratitude to the participating municipalities for their unwavering commitment to guiding the interns.
He stressed that rigorous supervision is what ultimately determines the impact of such initiatives.
“Internship without mentorship can become a mere placement. Your investment transformed placement into learning, professional formation and for some a pathway into sustainable employment,” Professor Tyobeka stated.
According to Dr Bole, the programme directly advances the vision of the National Development Plan (NDP) to foster a capable, ethical, and developmental state.
Furthermore, the initiative aligns seamlessly with the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS), which targets robust economic growth, infrastructure development, job creation, and social upliftment. By supporting the National Youth Policy, the COGTA-NWU partnership stands as a direct and urgent intervention against rising youth unemployment rates in South Africa.
According to the departmental spokesperson, Lerato Gambu, the department has reported tangible results from the programme with graduates securing permanent employment.
Following the groundbreaking announcement that 19 interns have successfully transitioned into permanent roles across both the public and private sectors, municipal chambers are already reporting a surge in operational morale.
By absorbing these graduates directly into local government structures, COGTA is tackling two of the nation’s biggest challenges simultaneously: rampant youth unemployment and structural capacity deficits within local municipalities. The move proves that the initiative is no longer just a training ground, but a vital pipeline for sustainable public service delivery.
“I am pleased to report that 19 interns have secured permanent employment in both the public and public sectors. Some have been permanently absorbed within municipalities”.
“This demonstrates that the programme has achieved its objective of transitioning graduates from learning to earning and building the internal capacity of various institutions” added Dr Bole.
