The YES Programme (Youth Employment Service) is a large-scale, business-led national initiative that places unemployed South African youth into one-year, paid work experience opportunities with host companies across the private and public sector. It was launched as a collaboration between government, business, and labour to tackle youth unemployment at scale, and has become one of the most significant sources of first-time work experience in the country.
Unlike a typical company-run internship, YES placements are coordinated through a central system: businesses register as “host employers,” pledge a number of youth positions, and YES matches eligible candidates into those roles. This is a structurally different model from most internships covered elsewhere on this site, which is why it gets its own guide.
How the YES Programme Differs from Other Internships
Because YES is centrally coordinated rather than run independently by each employer, a few things work differently:
- You apply once, centrally — through the YES platform, rather than applying separately to each host company
- Placements last 12 months — a consistent duration across almost all YES roles, unlike other internships which vary in length
- Host companies span many sectors — from retail and manufacturing to finance and technology, so the type of work varies significantly by placement
- It’s specifically aimed at unemployed youth — the programme’s entire purpose is first-time work experience for young South Africans who haven’t had a formal job before
For how this compares to internships run directly by a government department, see our guide to government internships and the Public Service Internship Programme.
Who Qualifies for the YES Programme
General eligibility criteria include:
- South African citizenship
- Being between 18 and 34 years old
- Being unemployed and without significant prior formal work experience
- Not currently studying full-time, in most cases, since YES placements are full-time roles
YES placements are open to candidates across a wide range of education levels — from matric only through to completed diplomas and degrees — since host companies register for a broad mix of role types, from entry-level administrative work to more technical positions. For a broader look at how internship eligibility works generally, see our guide to internship requirements in South Africa.
What YES Placements Pay
YES placements are paid, with stipends generally set in line with, or slightly above, the National Minimum Wage, funded by the host company. Because the programme is built around genuine work experience rather than unpaid learning, YES is a useful benchmark if you’re trying to gauge whether an unpaid internship elsewhere is reasonable — see our guide to paid vs unpaid internships in South Africa for more on that comparison, and our guide to internship stipends for typical ranges across different programme types.
How to Apply for the YES Programme
Applications go through the official YES platform rather than direct employer applications. The general process involves registering your details and qualifications on the platform, after which you become eligible to be matched with a host employer looking for candidates with your profile. Because matching depends on which host companies are actively recruiting at a given time, timelines can vary, and it’s worth keeping your profile and documents up to date while you wait.
For general application preparation — CV, documents, and how to present yourself well — see our guide on how to apply for an internship in South Africa, and build your CV using our free CV builder. If you’re applying with no prior work experience at all, our guide on how to get an internship with no experience is also worth reading before you apply.
What Happens After a YES Placement
A YES placement is a fixed 12-month term, and while it doesn’t guarantee permanent employment, many host companies do go on to offer permanent roles to strong performers once the placement ends. Even without a direct offer, a completed YES placement gives you verified, referenceable work experience — often the single hardest thing to obtain when you’re starting out with no prior employment history.
Browse other current internship opportunities, including sector-specific roles, on our internships listings page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the YES Programme the same as a government internship?
No. The YES Programme is a business-led national initiative that places youth with private and public host employers through a central matching system. A government internship through PSIP is run directly by a specific government department. See our government internships guide for the distinction.
Do I need a qualification to apply for YES?
Not necessarily. YES placements span a wide range of education levels, from matric only through to completed diplomas and degrees, depending on what host companies are looking for at any given time.
How long is a YES Programme placement?
YES placements run for a fixed 12-month term with a registered host employer.
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