City Power Johannesburg and the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority are offering 120 Electrical Engineering graduate internships for unemployed South Africans under 35. The 24-month programme will place qualifying National Qualifications Framework Level 7 or 8 graduates in Johannesburg, with applications closing at 12:00 on 24 July 2026.
For graduates struggling to secure their first meaningful engineering experience, this programme offers more than a short practical placement. Successful candidates will spend two years developing technical and professional skills within South Africa’s electricity distribution and energy sector.
The Electrical Engineering Graduate Internship Programme 2026–2028 is aimed at graduates who have completed their studies but have little or no formal workplace experience.
Why has City Power opened 120 graduate internship positions?
Many Electrical Engineering graduates leave university with strong theoretical knowledge but limited opportunities to apply that knowledge in a professional environment.
City Power and the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority, commonly known as EWSETA, are using this programme to help bridge that gap.
Successful interns will receive structured workplace exposure while learning from experienced industry professionals. The programme may also help participants understand how engineering principles are applied to municipal electricity infrastructure and daily utility operations.
With 120 positions available, the programme creates a substantial entry point for graduates interested in building long-term careers in the electricity and energy sector.
Who can be considered for the City Power programme?
Candidates must have completed an appropriate Electrical Engineering qualification and meet the programme’s citizenship, age and employment requirements.
Applicants must:
- Be South African citizens.
- Have valid South African identity documents.
- Be unemployed when submitting their applications.
- Be younger than 35 years.
- Hold a National Qualifications Framework Level 7 or Level 8 qualification in Electrical Engineering.
- Have obtained the qualification from a recognised and accredited South African higher education institution.
- Be academically eligible for registration with the relevant statutory professional council.
- Be available for the complete 24-month programme.
- Submit every compulsory supporting document.
The opportunity is particularly suitable for recent graduates who want practical exposure to municipal electricity systems, engineering projects and professional technical environments.
Applicants who do not hold the specified Electrical Engineering qualification may not be considered.
What practical experience could interns gain?
The internship is expected to introduce successful candidates to different aspects of electrical engineering and municipal utility operations.
Depending on their placement department and operational area, interns may gain exposure to:
- Electricity distribution infrastructure
- Electrical engineering operations
- Engineering maintenance
- Technical inspections
- Project planning and implementation
- Engineering project support
- Data collection and analysis
- Technical reports and documentation
- Workplace health and safety procedures
- Municipal power operations
- Engineering administration
- Stakeholder communication
- Professional engineering standards
- Teamwork and workplace collaboration
The exact responsibilities will depend on the department in which each intern is placed.
Candidates should be prepared to work under supervision, follow technical instructions and comply with all applicable workplace safety procedures.
Which skills should candidates demonstrate?
Academic qualifications are essential, but candidates should also show that they are ready to function in a technical and professional workplace.
Relevant skills include:
- Knowledge of Electrical Engineering principles
- Analytical and problem-solving ability
- Attention to detail
- Computer literacy
- Clear written and verbal communication
- Ability to interpret technical information
- Professional conduct
- Time-management skills
- Teamwork
- Responsibility and reliability
- Willingness to learn
- Ability to follow safety procedures
Candidates should include relevant academic projects, practical training and technical capabilities in their curriculum vitae. These details can help demonstrate their readiness for workplace-based learning.
How could the programme support professional development?
Applicants must be academically eligible for registration with the relevant statutory professional council.
The two-year placement may help interns build the practical experience, workplace discipline and technical understanding needed for their longer-term professional development.
However, admission to the internship does not automatically guarantee professional registration. Graduates will still need to satisfy all requirements established by the appropriate professional body.
Which documents must accompany the application?
Every application must include the documents specified by City Power.
Candidates must submit:
- A detailed and updated curriculum vitae
- The applicant’s current age clearly indicated on the curriculum vitae
- A completed City Power application form
- A motivation letter
- A recently certified copy of a South African identity document
- Certified copies of completed qualifications
- Certified copies of complete academic transcripts
Certified documents must not be older than three months.
Both the qualification certificate and complete academic transcript must be attached. An incomplete submission may be excluded from consideration.
Itumeleng’s Insider Tip: Do not overlook the instruction to show your current age clearly on your curriculum vitae. Before sending the email, compare every attachment with the compulsory document list and confirm that all certified copies are less than three months old.
What should the motivation letter explain?
The motivation letter should be written specifically for the City Power Electrical Engineering programme. A generic letter may not communicate the candidate’s interest or suitability effectively.
Applicants should explain:
- Why they are interested in the internship
- Why they want to enter the electricity and energy sector
- How their Electrical Engineering qualification relates to the programme
- Which technical skills they can contribute
- What they hope to learn during the 24-month placement
- How the internship supports their long-term career goals
The letter should be professional, clear and focused. Candidates should connect their academic background, technical interests and career plans directly to the opportunity.
How must graduates submit their applications?
Applications must be submitted electronically by email.
Send the complete application to talentpipeline@citypower.co.za.
Use the following email subject line:
Application: Electrical Engineering Graduate Internship Programme 2026–2028
Before sending the email, candidates should confirm that the completed City Power application form, curriculum vitae, motivation letter, identity document, qualification certificates and academic transcripts are attached.
Applications must arrive before 12:00 on 24 July 2026. Late applications and walk-in submissions will not be accepted.
What happens after the closing date?
City Power may assess applications through several stages before selecting candidates for the programme.
The process may include:
- Screening applications against the minimum requirements
- Confirming qualifications and identity documents
- Reviewing academic records
- Assessing motivation letters
- Shortlisting suitable candidates
- Conducting interviews or assessments
- Completing background and reference checks
Only candidates selected for the next stage may receive further communication.
Applicants who have not received feedback within 30 days after the closing date should consider their applications unsuccessful.
Appointments will be made in accordance with the Employment Equity Act and City Power Johannesburg’s Employment Equity Plan. Preference may be given to suitably qualified candidates from designated groups.
How does the City Power and EWSETA partnership benefit graduates?
City Power Johannesburg is a municipal-owned electricity utility responsible for distributing electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers within the City of Johannesburg.
Its operations include electricity infrastructure, network maintenance, power distribution and customer services.
EWSETA supports education, workplace training and skills development within South Africa’s energy and water sectors. Through employer partnerships, the authority helps graduates access practical experience aligned with labour-market needs.
This partnership gives qualifying Electrical Engineering graduates an opportunity to learn within an established electricity distribution environment while developing skills relevant to the wider energy sector.
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Final Thoughts
The City Power and EWSETA programme offers 120 unemployed Electrical Engineering graduates an opportunity to gain two years of structured workplace experience.
Candidates must hold a National Qualifications Framework Level 7 or Level 8 Electrical Engineering qualification, be younger than 35 and meet all supporting-document requirements.
A carefully prepared application is essential. Ensure that your current age appears on your curriculum vitae, all required documents are attached and the submission reaches City Power before 12:00 on 24 July 2026.
