X24 Office of the Chief Justice Internship Programme Opportunities 2026

The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) has opened applications for its Graduate Internship Programme for the period 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029. The opportunities are aimed at unemployed South African graduates who have not previously participated in an internship programme. Applications close on 28 September 2026.

The internship opportunities were advertised in DPSA Public Service Vacancy Circular 33 of 2026, published on 11 September 2026.

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Office of the Chief Justice Graduate Internship Programme

The OCJ says it is inviting qualifying graduates to participate in a graduate internship programme. Applicants must be unemployed graduates, South African citizens and must not have previously participated in an internship programme. The department also states that its Employment Equity Plan will be considered, with preference given to persons with disabilities.

Although the advertisement contains 24 internship post listings, several listings provide more than one placement. Taken together, the advertised posts represent 29 internship placements across the listed fields and locations.

Internship Fields Available

The opportunities cover a variety of career areas, making the programme suitable for graduates from finance, human resources, public administration, law and related disciplines.

1. Finance Internship

Reference: 2026/F01/OCJ
Number of interns: 1
Location: National Office, Midrand
Stipend: R8,174.75 per month

Applicants need Grade 12 and a three-year National Diploma at NQF Level 6 in Financial Accounting or Management Accounting, or an equivalent relevant qualification with 360 credits recognised by SAQA.

2. Asset Management Internship

Reference: 2026/AM02/OCJ
Number of interns: 1
Location: National Office, Midrand
Stipend: R8,174.75 per month

The position is aimed at graduates with qualifications in Financial Accounting, Cost and Management Accounting or Accounting at NQF Level 6 with 360 credits.

3. Human Resource Management and Development

Reference: 2026/HRUD03/OCJ
Number of interns: 1
Location: National Office, Midrand

Applicants need a three-year National Diploma in Human Resource Management, Human Resource Development or Industrial Psychology at NQF Level 6 with 360 credits.

4. Employee Health and Wellness

Reference: 2026/EHW04/OCJ
Number of interns: 1
Location: National Office, Midrand

The qualification requirement includes a three-year National Diploma in Industrial Psychology, Social Science or Psychology at NQF Level 6 with 360 credits.

5. Risk Management

Two Risk Management opportunities are advertised.

• 2026/RM05/OCJ: Risk Management qualification
• 2026/RM06/OCJ: Public Management qualification

Both positions are based at the National Office and offer a R8,174.75 monthly stipend.

6. Strategy and Service Delivery

Two opportunities are available in Strategy and Planning.

The 2026/SSD07/OCJ opportunity requires a National Diploma in areas such as Public Administration, Developmental Studies or Social Science, while 2026/SSD08/OCJ requires a qualification in Public Administration, Office Management or Business Administration. Both are based at the National Office in Midrand.

7. Institutional Secretariat Services

Reference: 2026/ISS09/OCJ
Number of interns: 1
Location: National Office, Midrand

The position is aimed at graduates with a three-year National Diploma in Public Administration, Office Management or Business Administration at NQF Level 6 with 360 credits.

8. Court Administration

Reference: 2026/CA10/OCJ
Number of interns: 2
Location: National Office, Midrand

Applicants require a three-year National Diploma or degree in Public Management or Office Management at NQF Level 6 with 360 credits, or an equivalent relevant qualification.

Western Cape Internship Opportunities

The OCJ also has two internship opportunities at its Western Cape Provincial Service Centre in Cape Town.

The 2026/WCPSC11/OCJ position is aimed at graduates with a National Diploma/Degree in Human Resource Management, while 2026/WCPSC12/OCJ is aimed at graduates in Public Administration, Office Management or Business Administration.

Each offers a R8,174.75 monthly stipend.

Constitutional Court Internships

There are also opportunities at the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein.

The advertised positions include:

• 2026/CC13/OCJ – Public Administration/Office Management/Business Administration, 1 intern
• 2026/CC14/OCJ – LLB Degree, 1 intern
• 2026/CC15/OCJ – Human Resource Management, 2 interns

The advertised stipend is R8,174.75 per month.

Court Administration Services – Legal

Law graduates also have an opportunity to gain experience through the Court Administration Services (Legal) internship programme.

There are three placements:

• 2026/CAS16/OCJ – Gauteng Division of the High Court, Pretoria
• 2026/CAS17/OCJ – Gauteng Division of the High Court, Johannesburg
• 2026/CAS18/OCJ – Labour and Labour Appeals Court, Johannesburg

Applicants must have an LLB Degree at NQF Level 8 with 480 credits recognised by SAQA. Each position carries a stipend of R8,174.75 per month.

Additional Provincial Opportunities

The advertisement also includes internships at provincial offices in Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape.

These include opportunities in:

• Public Administration
• Public Management
• Office Management
• Business Administration
• Human Resource Management
• Industrial Psychology
• Public Management and Governance

The qualification requirements generally specify a relevant three-year National Diploma or degree at NQF Level 6 with 360 credits, recognised by SAQA.

How Much Is the Internship Stipend?

The internship positions listed in Circular 33 advertise a stipend of R8,174.75 per month.

This is a stipend rather than a permanent employee salary, and successful applicants should consider the costs associated with travelling or relocating for an internship.

The OCJ specifically states that candidates who apply for internships outside their area of residence must be prepared to arrange and pay for their own accommodation and transportation, taking into account that they will receive a stipend.

Who Can Apply?

The general internship requirements include:

• Must be a South African citizen.
• Must be an unemployed graduate.
• Must not have previously participated in an internship programme.
• Must possess the qualification specified for the particular internship.
• Qualifications must be recognised by SAQA where applicable.
• Applicants with foreign qualifications must have them evaluated by SAQA.
• Applicants must be available for assessments and selection interviews when required.

The specific qualification requirement differs from one internship to another, so applicants should carefully check the reference number they are applying for.

Documents Required

Applicants must complete the new Z83 application form and submit it together with a recently updated CV. Applications submitted using the old Z83 form will not be considered.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to provide certified copies of:

• Matric certificate
• Relevant qualification(s)
• Academic transcripts/academic record
• Identity document

The OCJ also states that shortlisted candidates will undertake a pre-entry practical exercise as part of the assessment process.

Important Application Instructions

Applicants should pay close attention to the reference number attached to each internship.

The OCJ requires applicants to direct their applications to the relevant province/office and complete a separate application for each reference number.

This means that if you qualify for more than one internship, you should not simply submit one application and expect to be considered for all available positions. Follow the instructions for each reference number you wish to apply for.

Application Closing Date

The closing date for the OCJ Graduate Internship Programme is:

28 September 2026

Late applications will not be considered.

Applicants are therefore encouraged to prepare their documents early and ensure that the correct Z83 form, CV and relevant information are submitted before the deadline.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted according to the specific internship reference number and are generally sent by email to the address provided in the advertisement.

For example:

• Finance: 2026/F01/OCJ@judiciary.org.za
• Asset Management: 2026/AM02/OCJ@judiciary.org.za
• HR Management and Development: 2026/HRUD03/OCJ@judiciary.org.za
• Court Administration: 2026/CA10/OCJ@judiciary.org.za
• Constitutional Court: 2026/CC13/OCJ@judiciary.org.za, 2026/CC14/OCJ@judiciary.org.za or 2026/CC15/OCJ@judiciary.org.za
• Court Administration Services Legal: the applicable email address depends on whether the applicant applies for Pretoria, Johannesburg or the Labour and Labour Appeals Court position.

Applicants should use the official advertisement to confirm the correct email address and reference number before submitting.

Gain Valuable Workplace Experience

The Office of the Chief Justice internships provide graduates with an opportunity to gain practical experience within South Africa's justice administration environment.

Depending on the position, interns can gain exposure to areas such as finance, human resources, risk management, strategy and planning, court administration, public administration, legal services and Constitutional Court operations.

For graduates who are struggling to obtain their first work experience, an internship can provide an important opportunity to develop workplace skills, build professional networks and gain practical exposure related to their qualifications.

Apply Before the Deadline

The Office of the Chief Justice Graduate Internship Programme is aimed at unemployed South African graduates who meet the requirements for the advertised fields. With opportunities across national and provincial offices, the programme provides options for graduates in disciplines ranging from accounting and HR to public administration and law.

Closing date: 28 September 2026

Official vacancy document: DPSA Circular 33 of 2026 – Office of the Chief Justice

DPSA Vacancy Circular: DPSA Circular 33 of 2026

Apply via: www.skillsdaily.co.za

Important: SkillsDaily can provide information about the opportunity, but applicants should submit their applications using the official OCJ application instructions and email addresses contained in the DPSA advertisement. Always verify the reference number, qualification requirement and application email before sending your documents.