If you’re a graduate sitting at home with a degree and no workplace experience, this is for you. The Sasol Foundation Graduate Internship Programme 2026 is aimed at young South Africans who are qualified but struggling to get their first break. And right now, that first break matters more than ever.
Youth unemployment remains one of South Africa’s toughest realities. Many graduates discover that a qualification alone isn’t enough, employers want experience. This programme attempts to bridge that gap in a practical, structured way.
Offered by Sasol, the internship runs for 24 months and places graduates within various business units across Secunda, Sasolburg, and Sandton.
Quick Facts
- Closing date: 10 March 2026
- Location: Secunda, Sasolburg and Sandton
- Duration: 24 months (Fixed Term Contract)
- Positions available: 22
- Reference number: 11367
- Stipend: Not stated in the official advert
If any details change, applicants should confirm directly on the employer’s official careers portal using the reference number provided above.
What this programme is
The Sasol Foundation Graduate Internship Programme is a structured two-year workplace experience designed for unemployed South African graduates. It is offered by Sasol, a global integrated chemicals and energy company with a 75-year heritage.
This is not a short-term learnership or a once-off training course. It is a 24-month fixed-term contract aimed at giving graduates real exposure within Sasol business units aligned to their field of study.
The programme forms part of Sasol’s commitment to building an inclusive South African economy. It specifically targets young people from Sasol’s local communities and retail sites within a 50km radius of Secunda, Sasolburg and Ekandustria.
If you are a graduate between 18 and 29 years old, currently unemployed, and living in one of the qualifying communities, this opportunity is structured to bridge the gap between academic study and practical industry experience.
ALSO APPLY FOR Exxaro Graduate Internship 2026
What you’ll actually do
While the advert does not list daily duties, it clearly states that graduates will be placed within Sasol Business Units aligned to their qualification.
In practical terms, that likely means:
- Digital Marketing or Communications graduates may assist with campaign planning, internal communications, brand coordination or stakeholder engagement projects.
- Data Science or IT graduates could support analytics teams, manage dashboards, assist with reporting automation or support internal systems.
- Finance or Accounting graduates may work alongside finance teams handling reconciliations, reporting cycles or compliance support.
- Engineering graduates (Civil or Industrial) could support operations optimisation, project coordination or infrastructure-related tasks.
- HR or Industrial Psychology graduates may assist with recruitment coordination, workforce analytics or employee engagement initiatives.
- Legal or Compliance graduates might support contract reviews, regulatory compliance tracking or documentation management.
- Transport, Logistics or Operations Management graduates may support supply chain coordination and operational efficiency projects.
Because this is a two-year programme, participants are likely to rotate across projects or gain progressively increasing responsibility.
What this means for applicants: you should be prepared for structured supervision, performance assessments and professional development tracking over the full contract period.
Who qualifies
To apply, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- South African citizen
- Between 18 and 29 years old
- Currently unemployed
- Reside within Sasol local communities (Secunda, Sasolburg, Ekandustria) or Sasol Retail sites within a 50km radius
- Hold a completed bachelor’s degree in one of the listed fields
Eligible qualification areas include:
- Digital Marketing / Marketing & Sales
- Data Science / Data Analytics
- Information Technology
- Transport & Logistics
- Operations Management / Retail Management / Brand Management
- LLB / Legal & Compliance / Commercial or Property Law
- Human Resources / Industrial Psychology / Industrial Relations
- Finance / Accounting / Information Systems (including CIMA/CFP streams)
- Public Relations Management / Stakeholder Relations
- Development Studies / Project Management
- Brand Communication / Communications
- Business Management / Economics / Business Administration
- Engineering (Civil or Industrial)
- Property Studies / Real Estate
Applicants outside these qualification fields are unlikely to be considered.
Why applicants get disqualified
Based on the stated criteria and common screening practices, disqualification typically happens when:
- The applicant is older than 29
- The applicant is currently employed
- The applicant does not live within the required geographic radius
- The qualification is incomplete
- The degree field does not match the listed categories
- Required documentation is missing
- Incorrect reference number is used during application
Sasol also notes that their automated process is designed to assess a high volume of applications. This means keyword mismatches in CVs and incomplete forms can negatively affect your screening score.
Who should apply
This programme is best suited for:
- Graduates who studied in one of the listed fields but lack formal workplace experience
- Individuals committed to building a career within structured corporate environments
- Candidates from Sasol’s surrounding communities who meet the residency criteria
- Graduates who are comfortable with compliance-driven and performance-tracked work environments
If you are seeking a short-term job without long-term development goals, this may not be ideal. However, if you want structured exposure within a large industrial organisation, this opportunity aligns well with early career development.
Competition level: High
This opportunity is likely highly competitive for several reasons:
- 22 positions across multiple disciplines
- Recognised national employer
- 24-month duration (longer than typical internships)
- Clear employment equity alignment
Graduates from qualifying communities who meet every requirement will likely form a large applicant pool.
Tips to improve your selection chances
- Tailor your CV to your qualification stream. Highlight coursework and projects directly linked to the listed fields.
- Use the reference number (11367) correctly. This ensures your application is routed properly.
- Emphasise community residency clearly. Include your residential area prominently.
- Show measurable achievements. Example: “Improved student project efficiency by 20%.”
- Keep formatting clean. Automated systems may struggle with complex graphics or tables.
- Prepare certified copies early. Avoid last-minute document issues.
Common mistakes
- Submitting an incomplete qualification transcript
- Applying despite living outside the required radius
- Uploading unclear scanned documents
- Using generic CV templates not aligned to the qualification field
- Ignoring Employment Equity preference details
Application strategy (verification-first approach)
- Visit Sasol’s official careers website.
- Search using the reference number 11367 or the programme title.
- Confirm that the posting details match the advert (closing date: 10 March 2026).
- Create or log into your candidate profile.
- Upload required documents carefully.
- Double-check submission confirmation email.
If no direct link is provided in the advert, always navigate via the company’s official domain instead of third-party job boards.
Documents checklist
The advert does not list required documents, but typical applications require:
- Updated CV
- Certified copy of ID
- Certified copy of qualification
- Academic transcript
- Proof of residence
If unsure, verify requirements directly on the official application portal before submission.
Safety & Scam Check
- Never pay fees for funded internships.
- Apply only through Sasol’s official website domain.
- Use reference number 11367 when verifying the advert.
- Be cautious of WhatsApp-only applications.
- Do not send personal documents to unofficial email addresses.
Legitimate corporate graduate programmes do not charge application fees.
APPLY HERE FOR THE SASOL FOUNDATION GRADUATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a permanent job?
No. It is a 24-month fixed-term contract.
Is the stipend amount listed?
Not stated in the official advert.
Can employed graduates apply?
No. Applicants must currently be unemployed.
Is relocation provided?
Not stated in the official advert.
What happens if I don’t receive feedback?
If you do not hear back within 60 days after closing, consider your application unsuccessful.
Can I apply if I live outside the 50km radius?
No. The advert specifies residency within qualifying communities.
Are people with disabilities encouraged to apply?
Yes. Reasonable accommodation is supported according to the Employment Equity Plan.
How many positions are available?
22
What is the closing date?
10 March 2026.
Can I apply for more than one stream?
The advert does not specify this. Check the application portal for guidance.
Final assessment
The Sasol Foundation Graduate Internship Programme offers structured, two-year workplace exposure within a well-established energy and chemicals organisation. It is particularly suitable for unemployed graduates within qualifying communities who meet all eligibility requirements. While competitive, it provides aligned experience across multiple disciplines and reflects a clear inclusion and development focus.
Applicants who meet every criterion and prepare a tailored, accurate application stand a realistic chance in what is likely to be a high-volume selection process.