Lesaka Technologies is calling for graduate applications to its APEX Graduate Programme 2027, a permanent graduate opportunity in Johannesburg, Gauteng for graduates with excellent academic records, leadership potential and an interest in technology, finance or operations.
Applications close on 30 October 2026. Unlike a traditional graduate opportunity focused on a short internship, Lesaka state that successful candidates will become permanent employees from the first day and contribute as their responsibilities during the 18-month Future Leaders Accelerator.
Lesaka APEX Graduate Programme 2027 at a glance
Detail Information
Programme APEX Graduate Programme 2027 – Future Leaders Accelerator
Company Lesaka Technologies
Location Johannesburg, Gauteng
Employment Permanent
Programme duration 18-month
Closing date 30 October 2026
Experience Entry level
Academic requirement Minimum 75% average
Streams Technology, Finance and Operations
Final-year students Considered
Required documents CV, academic transcript and relevant qualification certificates
What is the Lesaka APEX Graduate Programme?
APEX is described by Lesaka as its Future Leaders Accelerator, designed for graduates who want to develop their careers within a financial technology environment.
It is a programme that lasts for 18 months and will see participants develop professional, functional, commercial and leadership capabilities.
One notable difference from a traditional graduate opportunity is that successful candidates will be permanent Lesaka employees from Day 1, as opposed to temporary participants who switch between training sessions without an ongoing role.
Graduates will have a line manager, defined responsibilities and business deliverables.
What will graduates do?
Participants will be exposed to different parts of Lesaka’s business, customers, markets and operations.
The programme is designed to give exposure outside the graduate’s immediate function, including opportunities to work across different functions and geographical environments.
Participants will also have the opportunities to engage with senior leaders and work on business challenges.
The development areas include:
- Commercial thinking
- Strategic thinking
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Leadership
- Personal effectiveness
- Problem-solving
- Technology and AI capability
Technology graduate opportunities
The Technology stream includes several potential roles for candidates with relevant qualifications.
These opportunities include:
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Data Analyst
- Developer / Business Analyst
- AI/Automation Engineer
- Security Operations Analyst
The roles cover areas including cybersecurity, data, software development, automation, artificial intelligence and technological operations.
Finance graduate opportunities
The Finance stream includes roles focused on accounting, analysis, commercial decision-making and financial risk.
The listed opportunities include:
- Group Accountant
- Finance Sales Analyst
- Junior Finance Analyst
- Junior Insights Analyst
- Risk Analyst
These roles provide potential exposure to financial analysis, accounting, customer economics, business decision-making and risk management.
Operations graduate opportunities
The Operations stream includes positions involved in projects, commercial strategy and risk.
The listed roles are:
- Operations & Projects Graduate
- Commercial Strategy Analyst
- Junior Commercial Decision Analyst
- Fraud Risk Analyst
These positions involve areas such as cross-functional projects, commercial decision-making, strategy and fraud prevention.
Who can apply?
Lesaka says that it is looking for candidates with the potential to become future leaders rather than selecting applicants based on their grades.
Applicants should have a minimum academic average of 75% and a relevant qualification aligned to one of the programme’s main areas:
- Technology
- Finance
- Operations
Candidates should be able to demonstrate leadership experience, which can come from university activities, employment, community involvement, entrepreneurship or other experiences.
Other qualities highlighted by Lesaka include:
- Strong problem-solving ability
- Analytical ability
- Desire to create an impact
- Interest in improving how things work
- Curiosity about technology and business
- Interest in the future of financial services
- Ambition
- Adaptability
Is previous fintech experience required?
Previous fintech experience is not required.
The programme information from Lesaka states that the company is interested in a candidate’s potential, mindset, abilities and demonstrated experience, rather than requiring previous experience specifically in financial technology.
This means that graduates who meet the academic and other requirements do not need to have worked in fintech before in order to apply.
Final-year students can apply
Final-year students are also eligible to be considered.
Applicants who are still completing their final year should therefore pay attention to the application requirements and provide the academic information requested by Lesaka.
What documents are required?
Applicants should prepare the following:
- Updated CV
- Academic transcript
- Copies of completed qualifications or certificates, where applicable
Lesaka advises that applicants should submit all required supporting documents, because incomplete applications may not be considered.
Candidates should therefore take care when reviewing their application before submission.
Why the programme could be relevant to graduates
The APEX programme combines an employment opportunity with professional development.
As successful participants become permanent employees from the beginning, the programme is different to an opportunity that only provides a temporary internship or a fixed-term graduate placement.
The programme does place an emphasis on exposure to senior leaders, business problems, technology and different areas of the organisation.
For graduates interested in financial services and fintech, this provides an opportunity to gain experience within a company that operates across financial services, technology and financial inclusion.
What happens during the programme?
Lesaka says that the programme will culminate in an executive-sponsored business challenge, where participants will make a recommendation to senior leadership.
The programme also includes a community/CSI contribution.
This means that the programme is intended to be more than just focused on technical or functional development, with participants expected to work on business and community-focused activities during their journey.
APEX Graduate Programme 2027 closing date
The closing date for applications is 30 October 2026.
Candidates should avoid waiting until the final day to submit their applications, particularly because the application requires supporting documents.
Before applying, applicants should make sure that their CV is current, and that their academic transcript and relevant certificates are available.
How to apply
Those interested in the graduate opportunity should apply through the Lesaka Technologies recruitment process for the APEX Graduate Programme 2027.
Applicants should select the stream and role that best suits their qualification and experience and submit all the supporting documentation that is required.
The application should include an updated CV, academic transcript and relevant qualification certificates where applicable.
Fact-checking and editorial note
The information contained in this article is based on the supplied Lesaka Technologies vacancy for the APEX Graduate Programme 2027 – Future Leaders Accelerator.
The programme details include the Gauteng location, permanent employment status, 18-month duration, 30 October 2026 closing date, minimum 75% academic average, three programme streams and consideration of final-year students.
Applicants should verify the vacancy’s status and application instructions before submitting an application.
Corrections: If Lesaka updates the closing date, eligibility requirements, roles or application documentation, this article should also be updated using verified information.
