The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) is offering unemployed graduates a rare chance to earn R12,000 per month while gaining 24 months of workplace experience in Pretoria. Eight Graduate Internship posts are open in the Companies and Close Corporations Department for South Africans aged 18 to 35 who hold a diploma or degree in Law, Public Administration or Business Management. Applications close on 20 August 2026, so you have very little time left to apply.
About the CIPC Graduate Internship Programme
The CIPC is the agency of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) responsible for registering companies, co-operatives and intellectual property rights in South Africa. Every business you see trading legally in the country, from spaza shops that formalise to JSE-listed giants, passes through CIPC systems. That makes it one of the most important regulators in the economy and a valuable name to have on your CV.
This internship sits within the Corporate Registers division under the Business Regulation and Reputation unit, reference number CIP260806-1. It was created to give unemployed graduates their first real workplace experience linked to their studies. Interns will be based at the CIPC Sunnyside Office in Pretoria for the full 24 months, working alongside experienced officials who process and regulate company and close corporation records for the whole country.
What You Will Learn
- Practical workplace exposure in company and close corporation regulation
- How to apply the knowledge from your Law, Public Admin or Business Management studies in a real regulator
- Corporate registers administration and record management
- Work-related skills such as professional communication, time management and teamwork
- Experience of how a national public entity operates day to day
- A monthly stipend of R12,000 for the full 24-month programme
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Who Can Apply
- Unemployed South African graduates
- Aged between 18 and 35
- A completed National Diploma or Degree in Law, Public Administration or Business Management
- The qualification must be from a recognised higher education institution
- You must not have gained work experience relevant to your field of study
- You must never have participated in an internship programme before
- Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by SAQA
Required Documents
- Updated CV
- South African ID document
- Academic transcript or academic record
- Relevant qualification certificate
Important: CIPC requires all four documents to be combined into one compressed document, because the system allows only one upload. Check that every page is readable before you submit, because missing documents can disqualify your application.
How to Apply
- Prepare your CV, ID, qualification and academic record, then merge them into a single PDF.
- Go to the official CIPC e-recruitment portal.
- Register your candidate profile or log in if you already have one.
- Search for reference number CIP260806-1.
- Complete the online application form and upload your combined document.
- Submit before 20 August 2026. Faxed, emailed, posted or hand-delivered applications will not be accepted.
- If you struggle with the portal, phone the CIPC Recruitment Office on 087 743 7074, 087 743 7075, 087 743 7197 or 087 260 1554.
Closing Date
The closing date for the CIPC Graduate Internship Programme 2026 is 20 August 2026. No late applications will be accepted.
Why It Matters
South Africa’s youth unemployment remains among the highest in the world, and graduates are not spared. Thousands of young people with Law, Public Administration and Business Management qualifications sit at home because employers demand experience they were never given a chance to earn.
This programme breaks that cycle: 24 months is double the length of a typical internship, the R12,000 monthly stipend is well above what most public internships pay, and CIPC is a respected national regulator. Interns leave with a strong reference, practical regulatory experience and a professional network in Pretoria’s government precinct. For eight graduates, this is a genuine bridge from the couch to a career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need work experience to apply?
No. The programme is designed for graduates with no relevant work experience. If you have already completed another internship, you will not qualify.
Where will I be based and can I apply from another province?
All 8 interns will be placed at the CIPC Sunnyside Office in Pretoria, Gauteng. You may apply from any province, but you must be able to work in Pretoria for 24 months, so plan your accommodation and transport before accepting.
How much does the CIPC internship pay?
Interns receive a stipend of R12,000 per month for the full 24-month contract, which is among the better-paying graduate internships in the public sector.
What happens after the 24 months?
The internship does not guarantee permanent employment, but the experience, reference and skills you gain at a national regulator will significantly strengthen your applications for permanent roles in government, corporate compliance and the private sector.
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