The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has opened applications for its 2026/27 Cadet Learnership Programme which offers unemployed South African youth with a Grade 12 or NQF Level 4 equivalent qualification the opportunity to obtain theoretical training and practical work experience.
Applications for the Home Affairs Cadet Learnership must be submitted by 18 September 2026 at 16:00.
Successful candidates will receive a monthly stipend for the duration of the 12-month contract. The advert supplied for the programme does not specify an exact stipend amount.
Home Affairs Cadet Learnership 2026/27
The Cadet Learnership is a youth development and empowerment programme offering training and practical experience to unemployed young South Africans.
The programme provides a combination of theoretical training and experiential learning to give learners insight into the work of the Department of Home Affairs.
An important component of the Cadet Learnership is training in the National Certificate: Immigration Services.
This offers learners the opportunity to gain knowledge relating to the immigration-services functions of the Department while also obtaining vital workplace experience.
Who Can Apply?
The programme targets unemployed South African youth.
Applicants must have:
Grade 12, or
An NQF Level 4 equivalent qualification.
Applicants should read the information at the individual post carefully as the Department may have additional requirements relating to specific positions or locations.
The Department also notes that preference will likely be given to young people who reside close to the office of the post for which they are applying.
The Learnership Runs for 12 Months
Those who successfully apply will be appointed to a 12-month contract for the duration of the Cadet Learnership Programme.
The programme combines two important components.
Theoretical Training
Learners receive structured theoretical training related to the National Certificate: Immigration Services.
Experiential Learning
The programme also provides learners with an opportunity to obtain practical exposure in a working environment.
The combination of these two components aims to equip unemployed youth with skills and experience which supports their participation in the labour market.
Monthly Stipend
Successful candidates will receive a monthly stipend for the duration of the Cadet Learnership Programme.
However, job seekers should know that the supplied Home Affairs advertisement does not specify the value of the stipend in rands.
Applicants should therefore be wary of social-media posts or websites which claim to know how much the stipend will be unless they confirm the amount in the vacancy information.
The stipend is not the equivalent of a permanent salary because participants are employed on a 12-month developmental contract.
Training in Immigration Services
The Home Affairs Cadet Learnership exposes participants to the main business of the Department of Home Affairs, which is Immigration Services.
This gives learners an insight into the type of work performed by the Department of Home Affairs.
For the unemployed young person, the combination of theoretical training and practical exposure can give valuable skills and experience while also providing insight into how a government department operates.
Important Eligibility Restrictions
There are a number of important restrictions on eligibility which applicants need to be aware of.
The Department notes that applicants who have participated in a Public Service Youth Development Programme in the past as covered by a directive are not eligible.
Applicants who are currently receiving financial assistance from government for a youth development programme are also excluded.
This means that potential participants must carefully consider their previous and current government-supported youth development programme experiences before attempting an application.
Documents Required
Applicants must submit the required documents and information with their application. The following items must be submitted:
A fully completed New Z83 Application for Employment Form (effective from 1 January 2021) and a comprehensive CV. The CV must include information such as:
Employment start and end dates in dd/mm/yy format
Job title
Duties performed
Reason for leaving each employment period
Details of at least two contactable employment references
Applicants must ensure that the information is complete and correct.
ID and Grade 12 Certificate
Shortlisted candidates will need to submit copies of their:
South African ID document
Grade 12 certificate
Applicants with foreign qualifications must also submit the qualification evaluation they received from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
These documents are required during the selection process rather than necessarily with the initial application unless the individual post specifies otherwise.
How to Apply for the Home Affairs Cadet Learnership
Applications for the Home Affairs Cadet Learnership must be made via the email or physical address specified at the bottom of the relevant Home Affairs post.
Applicants must ensure that they:
- Identify the correct Cadet Learnership post.
- Note the correct post number and job title.
- Complete the New Z83 form accurately.
- Prepare a comprehensive CV containing the required employment information and references.
- Submit the application to the correct email or address stated in the advertisement.
- Submit it before 16:00 on 18 September 2026.
The Department has specified that applications must be submitted to the correct address specified for the post.
What Happens After Applying?
Applicants should not expect to receive written acknowledgement of their applications.
The Department states that, due to the anticipated volume of applications, applications will not be acknowledged.
A selection process will be followed to identify suitable candidates and only a certain number of applicants will be selected.
Shortlisted candidates will have to submit further documents and may be subject to the Department’s required screening procedures.
Security and Pre-Employment Checks
Successful candidates will be subjected to pre-employment screening and security checks.
This is particularly relevant as the programme involves exposure to the Department of Home Affairs and its central immigration-services functions.
Applicants must be truthful throughout the recruitment processes.
Closing Date
The closing date for the Home Affairs Cadet Learnership Programme 2026/27 is:
18 September 2026 at 16:00.
Applicants must not leave submitting their applications until the last few hours.
As applications must be submitted to the correct address associated with the relevant post, candidates should carefully check the vacancy details before sending their applications.
Why This Opportunity Matters
For an unemployed young person with Grade 12 or an equivalent NQF Level 4 qualification, the programme offers much more than financial support.
The 12-month placement affords learners the opportunity to combine formal training with practical experience, and to gain exposure to the work of a national department of government.
The National Certificate: Immigration Services element also adds an occupational element to the programme.
However, applicants must understand that participation does not guarantee permanent employment with the Department of Home Affairs once the 12-month contract is completed.
Final Thoughts
The Department of Home Affairs Cadet Learnership Programme 2026/27 is open to unemployed South African youth with Grade 12 or an NQF Level 4 equivalent qualification.
The programme lasts for 12 months, combines theoretical and practical learning and successful candidates will receive a monthly stipend.
With applications closing on 18 September 2026 at 16:00, eligible applicants should carefully examine the relevant Home Affairs vacancy, complete the New Z83 form and submit their application to the correct address before the closing date.
The exact stipend amount should be confirmed from the official vacancy information as it is not specified in the source advertisement supplied for this article.
Source and reporting note
This article was independently written from the Department of Home Affairs 2026/27 Cadet Learnership Programme advertisement supplied for publication.
The article does not add a stipend amount because the supplied official information confirms a monthly stipend but does not specify its rand value.
Editorial policy
We provide independently written information about government learnerships, internships, bursaries, skills programmes and employment opportunities.
We distinguish between confirmed requirements and potential outcomes and do not present a learnership as a guarantee of permanent employment.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information and public awareness. It is not an official recruitment notice from the Department of Home Affairs or PSETA.
Applicants should consult the official DHA vacancy advertisement for the relevant post before submitting an application, particularly for the correct application address, post number and position-specific requirements.
