A new digital marketing learnership is giving unemployed young South Africans a chance to gain practical e-commerce experience while supporting small businesses on the Takealot Marketplace. The 12-month paid programme combines training, workplace exposure, assessments and certification — with applications closing on 5 May 2026.
Takealot, together with the Youth Employment Service and Services SETA, is offering a 12-month paid Digital Marketing Learnership for unemployed youth. The programme focuses on marketplace seller support, digital marketing, e-commerce, workplace experience and certification. Applications close on 5 May 2026.
For many young people, digital skills are no longer optional.
Online stores, product listings, customer service and e-commerce platforms are now part of how businesses grow. However, many unemployed youth struggle to access the practical experience needed to enter this space.
The Takealot Digital Marketing Learnership 2026 gives young people a chance to learn these skills in a real-world setting.
What Is The Takealot Digital Marketing Learnership 2026?
The Takealot Digital Marketing Learnership is a 12-month fixed-term paid learnership.
It is offered through Takealot Marketplace Seller Support, together with the Youth Employment Service and Services SETA.
The programme aims to help young people gain digital and e-commerce skills while supporting small businesses.
Therefore, learners will not only receive training.
They will also gain workplace experience by helping small businesses understand online selling, marketing and business operations.
This is a practical opportunity for youth who want to enter the digital economy.
Who Is Offering This Learnership?
The programme involves Takealot, the Youth Employment Service and Services SETA.
Takealot is one of South Africa’s major online shopping platforms, while Services SETA supports skills development in the services sector.
Through this learnership, young people can gain exposure to online marketplace support and small business development.
In addition, the programme helps learners understand how digital platforms support business growth.
Where Will The Learnership Take Place?
The learnership will take place in various areas.
The programme notes that placements will mainly focus on townships and urban centres.
Applicants should also have reliable transport or the ability to relocate if needed.
In addition, applicants must be within 40km of the placement area.
This means candidates should carefully consider the placement requirements before applying.
How Long Is The Programme?
The programme runs for 12 months.
It is a fixed-term learnership, which means selected candidates will participate for the set programme period.
During this time, learners will take part in training, workplace experience, assessments and certification activities.
What Will Learners Do During The Programme?
Learners will support small businesses that use or want to grow through the Takealot Marketplace.
This may include helping with online store setup, product listings, marketing content and customer service.
As a result, learners can gain exposure to how e-commerce works in practice.
They will also learn how small businesses sell products online and manage customers in a digital environment.
What Are The Key Responsibilities?
Successful candidates will support different activities linked to online selling and digital marketing.
Responsibilities include:
- Helping small businesses grow on Takealot Marketplace
- Supporting product listings
- Assisting with online store setup
- Helping with marketing content
- Supporting product photo preparation
- Learning about e-commerce operations
- Learning about delivery processes
- Supporting customer service activities
- Taking part in training and assessments
This makes the opportunity useful for young people who want practical exposure to digital business operations.
Digital marketing is not only about posting online.
It also includes product presentation, customer experience, online visibility and business support.
What Is The Programme Structure?
The learnership includes several important parts.
These include:
- Training
- Workplace experience
- SMME placement
- Assessment
- Certification
The SMME placement is especially important because it allows learners to work with small businesses in a practical environment.
Therefore, learners can build experience while also helping local businesses improve their online presence.
What Are The Requirements?
Applicants must meet the listed requirements before applying.
Candidates must be:
- Unemployed
- Under 30 years old
- South African citizens with a valid ID
- Matric or Grade 12 holders
- Able to communicate in English
- Comfortable with basic computer use
- Willing to learn
- Positive and committed
Applicants must also have less than 6 months of work experience.
In addition, they need reliable transport or the ability to relocate.
They should also be within 40km of the placement area and must have no criminal record.
What Documents Must Applicants Upload?
Applicants should prepare their documents before starting the application.
Required documents include:
- Updated CV
- Copy of ID
- Matric certificate
- Proof of address
Before applying, candidates should make sure all documents are clear and easy to read.
This matters because incomplete or unclear documents may delay the screening process.
What Is The Selection Process?
The selection process includes several stages.
Applicants may go through:
- Initial screening
- Virtual interviews
- Matching with SMMEs
- Final selection
Because the programme includes placement with small businesses, candidates should take the process seriously from the beginning.
In addition, applicants should check their phones and emails regularly after applying.
What Are The Benefits Of The Learnership?
The Takealot Digital Marketing Learnership offers practical benefits for young people who want to enter the digital and e-commerce space.
Benefits include:
- Real-world work experience
- In-demand digital skills
- E-commerce exposure
- Mentorship from business owners
- Professional network building
- Potential future employment opportunities
For unemployed youth, this kind of experience can help strengthen a CV and improve confidence.
It can also help applicants understand what employers and small businesses need in the modern online economy.
Itumeleng’s Insider Tip: When applying, make sure your CV clearly shows your Matric, computer skills, communication ability and any experience with social media, online selling, Canva, customer service or admin work. Even small personal projects can help show that you are serious about digital marketing.
Who Should Consider Applying?
This learnership is best suited to young people who want to build practical digital and business skills.
It may be a good fit for applicants who:
- Are unemployed
- Are under 30 years old
- Have completed Matric
- Want digital marketing experience
- Are interested in e-commerce
- Enjoy helping small businesses
- Can communicate well in English
- Are willing to attend training and assessments
- Have reliable transport or can relocate
In addition, the programme may suit candidates who want to gain experience before applying for digital marketing, customer service, online sales or business support roles.
Why Is This Opportunity Worth Considering?
Many small businesses need support to sell online, but they may not always have the digital skills or time to manage marketplace operations properly.
This creates an opportunity for young people who understand online platforms, product listings and customer support.
Through this learnership, participants can learn skills that apply across many industries.
For example, e-commerce experience can be useful in retail, logistics, marketing, sales, customer service and small business development.
The digital economy is growing, and practical experience can help young people stand out.
How Can Applicants Prepare A Strong Application?
Applicants should take time to prepare before submitting.
A strong application should include complete documents, accurate details and a clear CV.
Candidates can strengthen their applications by highlighting:
- Matric completion
- Basic computer skills
- English communication skills
- Customer service experience
- Social media experience
- Online selling experience
- Admin or data capturing experience
- Willingness to learn
- Ability to work with small businesses
However, applicants should keep the CV simple and honest.
The goal is to show that they meet the requirements and are ready for the opportunity.
How Do You Apply For The Takealot Digital Marketing Learnership 2026?
Applicants must submit their applications online using the official application form.
Applications must be submitted through the Takealot Digital Marketing Learnership 2026 application form.
Before submitting, applicants should upload the required documents and confirm that all personal details are correct.
Finally, candidates should apply before the closing date of 5 May 2026.
Grow Your Career with SETACareers
Access the latest learnerships, internships, bursaries, scholarships, fellowships, apprenticeships, and practical SETA guides designed to help you succeed.
- Learnerships
- Internships
- Apprenticeships
- Bursaries
- Scholarships
- Fellowships
- Career Advice
- SETA Guides
Final Thoughts
The Takealot Digital Marketing Learnership 2026 is a valuable opportunity for unemployed youth who want to gain practical experience in e-commerce and digital marketing.
With training, workplace exposure, SMME placement, assessments and certification, the programme gives learners a structured way to build skills that are useful in today’s online business environment.
Applications close on 5 May 2026.
Applicants should prepare their CV, ID copy, Matric certificate and proof of address early, then submit their application before the deadline.
