The Government Printing Works (GPW) has opened a large graduate internship intake through Public Service Vacancy Circular 35 of 2026, giving qualifying unemployed South African graduates an opportunity to gain structured workplace experience in different areas of the organisation.
The GPW notice appears in the Government Printing Works section of the Department of Public Service and Administration’s official vacancy circular. The circular was issued on 2 October 2026 and states that the internship programme is intended to provide graduates with practical work exposure over a 24-month internship period.
There are opportunities in supply chain, finance, human resources, communications, information technology, engineering, operations, legal services, security, planning and other fields.
The confirmed stipend is R8,174.75 per month.
Government Printing Works Internship 2026/2027: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Government Printing Works (GPW) |
| Programme | Graduate Programme (Internship) |
| Circular | Public Service Vacancy Circular 35 of 2026 |
| Circular date | 2 October 2026 |
| Internship period | 24 months |
| Stipend | R8,174.75 per month |
| Main location | Pretoria |
| Other location | East London for two Sales posts |
| Applicants | Unemployed South African citizens |
| Previous internship | Applicants must not have participated in an internship programme |
| Closing date | 19 October 2026 |
| Walk-in closing time | 16:00 |
| Online closing time | 23:59 |
The GPW says applications must reach the organisation by 19 October 2026, with walk-in applications closing at 16:00 and online applications at 23:59.
What Is the Government Printing Works Internship Programme?
The GPW Graduate Programme is designed to give graduates practical exposure in a professional working environment.
According to the vacancy circular, successful interns will receive structured work exposure and training relevant to their field of study and placement area. Interns are also expected to participate in workplace activities, projects and capacity-building initiatives while working under the supervision of experienced professionals.
This makes the programme relevant to graduates who already hold qualifications but need workplace experience to strengthen their professional development.
The circular describes the programme as a 24-month internship. Applicants should therefore understand that this is an internship opportunity rather than a permanent appointment.
Who Can Apply for the GPW Internship?
The GPW notice sets out several important conditions.
Applicants must be:
- Unemployed.
- South African citizens.
- Graduates who meet the qualification requirements for the particular internship.
- People who have not previously participated in an internship programme.
The notice specifically warns that applicants must disclose previous internship participation. Failure to disclose this information may result in termination of the internship contract on grounds stated by GPW.
Applicants should therefore read the requirements for the individual post carefully before submitting an application.
Government Printing Works Internship Stipend
The advertised stipend is R8,174.75 per month.
This amount applies throughout the GPW internship posts listed in the circular, including positions in finance, supply chain, human resources, communications, technical support and other areas.
The vacancy notice refers to this amount as a stipend, not a permanent employee salary. Candidates should therefore avoid interpreting the internship stipend as an indication of a permanent GPW salary.
Government Printing Works Internship Fields
One of the most useful features of this intake is the range of academic backgrounds covered.
Supply Chain and Procurement
The programme includes Strategic Sourcing, with two posts for graduates holding a degree in Supply Chain Management or Logistics Management.
There are also two Contract Management positions requiring a degree in Supply Chain Management or Procurement.
An Asset and Inventory Management internship is available to graduates with qualifications in Supply Chain Management, Logistics Management or Accounting Management.
Finance
The Financial Services stream has four posts.
Applicants require a National Diploma or Degree in Financial Accounting. The advertised stipend is R8,174.75 per month.
Human Resources
Several internships are available in the human resources environment.
These include:
- Employee Benefits and Administration
- Talent Management
- Performance Management and Development System
- Recruitment and Selection
- Organisational Development and Change Management
- Labour Relations
- Employee Health and Wellness
The required qualifications vary according to the particular post, including Human Resources Management, Human Resource Development, Labour Relations, Labour Law, Industrial Psychology, Social Work and Psychology.
Information Technology and Digitalisation
The GPW intake also includes opportunities connected to technology.
The Digitalization internship requires a National Diploma or Degree in areas including IT, Software Programming, Computer Systems, Engineering, Printing or Technology Management.
An Enterprise Portfolio Management Office internship is available to graduates with qualifications in ICT or Project Management.
The Knowledge Management position accepts qualifications in Information Science, Information Management or Records Management.
Engineering and Technical Opportunities
Engineering graduates can consider several specialised placements.
The circular lists internships for:
- ID and Passport Factory
- Equipment Maintenance
- Service Maintenance
- Technical Technology Support: Quality, Health and Safety
- Technical Technology Support: Technology Planning
The qualifications include Industrial Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Quality Management, Operations Management and Printing, depending on the position.
Communications and Media
There is also a Communications internship in Pretoria.
The position requires a National Diploma or Degree in Communication, Marketing or Media Studies. This may be relevant to graduates seeking practical experience in a government communications environment.
Operations and Business Management
Other placements include the Office of the CEO, Office of the General Manager: Corporate Services, Office of the General Manager: Operations, Strategy Planning and Monitoring, and Demand Planning.
The required qualifications vary from Public Management and Public Administration to Business Management, Office Management, Operations Management and Logistics or Supply Chain Management.
Legal, Security and Governance
Graduates interested in legal and governance-related work can also find relevant opportunities.
The programme includes:
- Contracts and Litigation
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Internal Audit
- Security Management
- Integrity Management and Investigations
For example, the Contracts and Litigation internship requires an LLB or Paralegal qualification, while Integrity Management and Investigations accepts qualifications in Investigation, Policing, Law or Social Sciences.
Sales Internship in East London
Most of the advertised internship positions are located in Pretoria, but the circular also lists two Sales positions for the Regional Warehouse in East London.
The qualification requirements include Operations Management, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Management or Public Administration.
This is an important detail for applicants outside Pretoria because the location of the placement differs from most of the other GPW internships.
How to Apply for the Government Printing Works Internship
The GPW application process has specific requirements that candidates should follow carefully.
Applicants must use the new Z83 Application for Employment form, which has been effective since 1 January 2021. The circular states that applications submitted using the old Z83 will not be considered.
Each post must have its own application form, and the form must be completed, initialled and signed. Applicants must also provide a CV as instructed in the vacancy notice.
For online applications, the circular provides a separate Grad reference link for each internship. Applicants should use the link corresponding to the specific position they want to apply for rather than selecting a different reference number.
The GPW notice also states that applicants may submit applications by hand at:
389 Sophie De Bruyn Street, Pretoria
For email applications, candidates should use the email address associated with the particular post and place the correct job title and reference number in the email subject line. The notice specifies an email size limit of 2MB.
Important Documents and Application Rules
Candidates should carefully follow the document rules.
The GPW notice states that pictures, snapshots, zipped files, IMG files and JPEG documents will not be accepted.
Only shortlisted candidates will be required to submit certified copies of qualifications and other relevant documents before or on the interview date, following communication from Human Resources.
Applicants with foreign qualifications are responsible for obtaining the relevant South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) evaluation.
Late applications and applications that do not comply with the stated instructions will not be considered.
Government Printing Works Internship Closing Date
The closing date is 19 October 2026.
The official notice gives two different cut-off times depending on the application method:
- Walk-in applications: 16:00
- Online applications: 23:59
Applicants should not wait until the final day if they can submit earlier. Technical problems or incomplete documents do not change the official closing time.
What Happens After Applying?
GPW states that correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates.
Shortlisted candidates must be available for interviews at a date and time determined by the Government Printing Works. Personnel suitability checks will also form part of the selection process. Successful candidates will be required to enter into an employment contract and performance agreement where applicable.
The GPW notice further states that candidates who have not received a response within three months after the closing date should consider their applications unsuccessful.
Final Advice for Applicants
The Government Printing Works internship intake provides opportunities across a much wider range of disciplines than printing alone. Graduates in finance, supply chain, human resources, law, engineering, ICT, communications, operations, security and related fields can find positions that correspond with their academic backgrounds.
Before applying, candidates should identify the exact post, reference number, qualification requirement and application link that applies to them.
It is also important to use the current Z83 form, submit a clear CV, follow the document-format requirements and ensure that the application reaches GPW before the relevant closing time.
Most importantly, applicants should rely on the official DPSA vacancy circular and the GPW application instructions, rather than unverified social-media posts or third-party application forms.
Official Source
The information in this article is based on Public Service Vacancy Circular 35 of 2026, Government Printing Works (Annexure F), pages 35–43, issued by the Department of Public Service and Administration on 2 October 2026. The official circular should be checked before applying because application links, vacancy status and recruitment information can change.
Karabo Ntswaki – Author of CareersFocus.co.za
Karabo Ntswaki is passionate about empowering South Africans with reliable, verified, and easily accessible information about careers and education. Through CareersFocus.co.za, Karabo’s mission is to support students, job seekers, and young professionals by providing accurate guidance on learnerships, internships, bursaries.
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