Petroleum Agency SA Internships 2027/2028: 10 Cape Town Posts

Who can apply

• South African citizen
• Currently unemployed
• Relevant qualification already completed
• No previous internship, whether funded by MQA or a company
• All required certified supporting documents supplied
• The 2027/2028 intake continues into January 2029. The planned dates cover two full years, so consider your ability to work in Cape Town for that period. Relocation assistance and accommodation are not specified.
• Preference will be given to candidates from designated groups under national labour legislation. No numerical age limit or minimum academic average is stated.

How to apply

Applications are submitted directly to Petroleum Agency - we do not collect applications. Read the eligibility criteria, prepare your supporting documents, then complete your application on the official page.

Full details

Previous internship participation rules you out of Petroleum Agency SA internships for 2027/2028, whether funded by MQA or a company. Ten Cape Town places are available, with applications closing on 9 November 2026 at 16:30. Check this condition before preparing your certified documents.

Legitimate jobs, bursaries and learnerships do not charge application, registration or placement fees. Use only the official recruitment route and confirmed application addresses.

Do you meet the funding and qualification conditions?

The 2027/2028 intake continues into January 2029. The planned dates cover two full years, so consider your ability to work in Cape Town for that period. Relocation assistance and accommodation are not specified.

Preference will be given to candidates from designated groups under national labour legislation. No numerical age limit or minimum academic average is stated.

Which of the seven streams fits your studies?

The Software Developer qualification must be in:

• Computer Science
• Software Engineering
• Information Systems
• Information Technology
• Computer Engineering
• Informatics
• Application Development

LLB graduates can compare three places across two different functions: one in company secretarial work and two in licensing and legal compliance. Procurement is the stream that explicitly accepts a National Diploma; the geoscience, GIS and environmental streams require Honours-level qualifications.

For TVET graduates, the funding criteria specify N6 Diploma graduates. This does not override a stream’s qualification requirements. If you hold an N6 certificate without a completed diploma, confirm eligibility with PASA before treating it as equivalent.

Which certified documents must accompany your email?

You must have completed your qualification and provide certified copies from all four categories below:

• Academic record or statement of results
• Degree certificate or letter of completion
• Matric certificate
• South African identity document

A missing category can exclude your application. The alternatives apply within each category: a completion letter can replace the degree certificate, but it does not replace your academic record.

Procurement applicants with a diploma should provide proof of that completed qualification. No certification-age limit, attachment-size limit or mandatory email subject format is stated.

A concise CV and covering email are useful additions, but they do not replace the four certified document categories. Present relevant modules, projects and technical skills accurately.

Where should you send your application?

GIS applicants should resolve the address before submitting. Do not guess an email spelling or send your ID and academic documents to an unconfirmed destination. The phone number above is PASA’s general contact number, not an application-submission route.

How do you submit before 9 November?

1. Select the matching stream. Check your completed qualification against its minimum requirement and confirm that you meet the general eligibility conditions.
2. Prepare the four certified document categories. Scan every page clearly and check that the attachments open. Add a focused CV if you choose.
3. Identify your chosen internship clearly. A useful suggested subject is “Petroleum Agency SA Internship 2027/2028 - ”. No exact subject format or numerical reference is prescribed.
4. Use the correct stream’s email. Check the recipient against the table. GIS candidates must obtain confirmation of their address first.
5. Submit before Monday, 9 November 2026 at 16:30. Leave time to resolve missing attachments or delivery errors; late applications will not be considered.
6. Keep your sent email and monitor responses. Retain the attachments and check for delivery failures. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interviews.

If you receive no response within four weeks of your application, consider it unsuccessful. This period runs from when you apply, rather than four weeks after the closing date.

What will you learn and do in each placement?

PASA promotes and regulates South Africa’s onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and exploitation. These placements combine departmental work with professional development in the upstream petroleum sector.

Interns will attend relevant discipline-specific courses or conferences, develop skills through departmental duties, and work independently to assess their progress. Depending on existing competence, computer training may cover Word, Excel, PowerPoint and MS Project.

Petroleum Geology/Geophysics - three interns

Training covers geology and geophysics for local and international oil and gas work. You will develop knowledge relevant to an Earth Scientist career through:

• Seismic interpretation and basin modelling
• Petroleum systems
• Prospect generation and evaluation
• South African geology
• Independent work to assess your development

GIS - one intern

This placement develops petroleum exploration and production data-management skills, including GIS and spatial information. Practical work involves exploration datasets and industry tools such as Petrel, Kingdom and ESRI ArcGIS.

The learning supports potential Earth Scientist or Geoscientist work in oil and gas data management, with opportunities to work independently and review your progress.

Software Developer - one intern

You will learn how digital systems support petroleum exploration and production information. The practical scope includes:

• Software development, application integration, databases and APIs
• Microsoft Power Platform, SharePoint, Power BI and Azure
• Designing, developing, testing and supporting business applications
• Automation, analytics and digital transformation projects
• Technical documentation, troubleshooting and user support
• Cybersecurity, information governance, records management and data protection practices

Environmental Sciences/Environmental Management - one intern

The team reports to the Manager: Environmental Compliance. You will work with experienced environmental officials and have one-to-one interaction with the Lead Environmental Compliance Scientist.

• Opportunities to visit active onshore and offshore drilling, seismic-survey and production operations
• Exposure to operational issues through the Technical Advisory Committee
• Engagement with scientists and environmental assessment practitioners
• Interaction with government stakeholders in forestry, fisheries and the environment; water and sanitation; and South African heritage resources
• Collaboration with internal Technical Compliance, Licensing and Regulation, and Information Services teams
• Environmental compliance training, basic oil and gas courses, and relevant conferences
• Independent development work and computer training suited to current skills

Procurement Officer - one intern

The team reports to the Supply Chain Specialist. Working with experienced Supply Chain Management (SCM) staff, you will help with:

• Coordinating and carrying out SCM administration
• Compiling, issuing and managing requests for quotations and proposals through contract award or amendment
• Maintaining and managing the contract register
• Establishing, monitoring and maintaining supplier-database compliance
• Participating in bid committees, supporting advice on SCM best practice and preparing committee reports
• Monitoring suppliers’ compliance with SCM legislation and regulations
• SCM courses and training in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and MS Project

Company Secretary - one intern

This position sits in a team reporting to the General Counsel/Company Secretary. Its duties cover:

• Monitoring compliance with legislation, regulations, governance frameworks, internal policies and procedures
• Preparing meeting agendas and papers, recording minutes, and maintaining resolutions, action registers and governance records
• Maintaining the annual governance calendar, reviewing compliance and tracking corrective actions
• Researching legislation and case law, preparing legal memoranda and summaries, and assisting with supervised legal advice
• Drafting, reviewing and proofreading contracts, agreements, correspondence, policies, memoranda and other legal documents
• Managing legal files, compiling litigation and dispute-resolution documents, liaising with stakeholders, and monitoring matters and deadlines
• Other reasonable legal, governance and company secretarial support assigned by the General Counsel/Company Secretary

Licence and Legal Compliance Officer - two interns

The team reports to the Executive Manager: Licensing and Regulation. Your work will involve:

• Evaluating and processing rights and permit applications under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act 28 of 2002)
• Preparing and publishing notices
• Drafting recommendations on rights and permit applications for the Minister’s consideration
• Preparing documents for the notarial execution of rights and permits
• Contributing comments on government policy and the petroleum industry’s legislative framework
• Conducting legal research

What should you confirm before accepting an offer?

The stipend amount, accommodation and relocation support are not stated. Funding by MQA does not establish a particular monthly payment. Confirm the financial terms and practical arrangements directly with PASA if you progress.

No permanent appointment is promised after the two-year programme. Matric alone does not qualify you, and a qualification that is still in progress does not meet the completed-qualification condition.

Get the documents ready, then check the recipient

Match your qualification to the stream, assemble the four certified document categories, and check the email address before sending. GIS candidates should call PASA on +27 21 938 3500 to resolve their recipient address first.

Submit before 9 November 2026 at 16:30. If you are also considering another regulator-based programme, compare the separate NERSA internships and learnerships against your qualification.

Frequently asked questions

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