The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is offering 20 paid graduate placements through its Youth Graduate Project (YGP) 2026/2027 in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality, Free State. Unemployed environmental graduates who live in the district can earn R271.04 per day over an 8-month full-time contract focused on environmental management and waste management. Applications must be hand-delivered by 16:00 on Friday, 14 August 2026 – the clock is ticking.
About the Programme
DFFE is the national department responsible for protecting South Africa’s environment, forests and fisheries. Through its Environmental Programmes Branch and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), it creates thousands of work opportunities each year that pair public employment with environmental protection.
The Youth Graduate Project places unemployed graduates inside municipal environmental and waste-management projects, giving them their first professional experience in the sector they studied for. This intake targets the Lejweleputswa District around Welkom in the Free State, with transformation targets of 100 percent youth participation, 60 percent women and 2 percent persons living with disabilities. For environmental science graduates in a district with few formal opportunities, this is a rare local opening into government environmental work.
What You Will Gain
- Eight months of paid, full-time work (five days a week) at R271.04 per day
- Practical exposure to municipal environmental management and waste management projects
- Hands-on fieldwork experience that strengthens your CV
- Networking with government officials, consultants and community organisations
- A pathway toward roles such as Environmental Officer or Waste Management Officer
Who Can Apply
- Unemployed South African youth
- Resident in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality (proof of residence required)
- Holding a recognised environmental qualification such as BSc Natural Sciences, Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Environmental Health or similar
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Required Documents
- Comprehensive CV highlighting projects, fieldwork, GIS or laboratory skills
- Short motivational letter explaining your interest in environmental or waste management
- Certified copy of your South African ID
- Certified copies of your qualifications
- Proof of residence showing an address within Lejweleputswa District
How to Apply
- Prepare your CV and motivational letter, tailored to environmental and waste management.
- Gather certified copies of your ID and qualifications plus proof of residence.
- Place all documents in a sealed envelope clearly labelled Youth Graduate Project (YGP) 2026/2027 Application.
- Hand-deliver the envelope to Lejweleputswa District Municipality, Corner Jan Hofmeyr and Tempest Road, Welkom, 9459.
- Deliver before 16:00 on Friday, 14 August 2026 – email applications are not accepted.
More information at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Closing Date
The closing date for the DFFE Youth Graduate Project 2026/2027 is Friday, 14 August 2026 at 16:00. No late applications will be accepted.
Why It Matters
Environmental graduates face one of the toughest job markets in South Africa – the field is small, and most posts demand experience that new graduates simply cannot get. The YGP was built to fix exactly that. Eight months of daily-paid municipal project work delivers practical experience in waste audits, environmental compliance and community programmes that consulting firms and government departments recognise.
Because this intake is ring-fenced for Lejweleputswa residents, local graduates are not competing against the whole country. If you have not been contacted within three months of the closing date, consider the application unsuccessful – but the experience gained by those selected can be the bridge from degree to career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if I live outside Lejweleputswa District?
No. Applicants must live in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality and provide proof of residence with a district address.
How much does the placement pay?
Participants earn R271.04 per day for a five-day work week over the 8-month contract.
Can I email my application?
No. Applications must be hand-delivered in a sealed, labelled envelope to the Lejweleputswa District Municipality offices in Welkom.
Do I need work experience?
No. The advert does not require prior work experience – only the environmental qualification, district residence and unemployed status.
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