Gert Sibande TVET College: INSETA Learnerships 2026 Open New Career Pathways for Young South Africans

For many Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates, one challenge continues to stand between education and employment: workplace experience. In 2026, Gert Sibande TVET College and the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) are aiming to bridge that gap through a new Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Programme designed to provide practical industry exposure for unemployed graduates across Mpumalanga.

The initiative offers an 18-month workplace-based learning opportunity that places qualifying students within insurance-related organisations throughout the Gert Sibande Region. The programme is intended to help graduates convert classroom knowledge into practical skills while improving their long-term employability in South Africa’s competitive labour market.

Why the Programme Matters

Across South Africa, employers increasingly seek candidates who possess both formal qualifications and real-world workplace experience. While many TVET students complete their N4, N5 and N6 studies successfully, obtaining the practical exposure required to complete qualifications and secure employment can be difficult.

The partnership between Gert Sibande TVET College and INSETA directly addresses this challenge by creating structured workplace opportunities in the financial and insurance sector. Successful candidates will gain hands-on experience inside insurance organisations, allowing them to develop industry knowledge, professional skills, and workplace confidence.

The programme also reflects a broader trend within South Africa’s skills development framework, where Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) work alongside educational institutions to ensure graduates are prepared for industry demands.

A College With a Growing Vocational Footprint

Gert Sibande TVET College has become one of Mpumalanga’s major vocational education institutions since its establishment in 2002 through the merger of the Ermelo, Evander and Standerton technical colleges. Today, the college operates multiple campuses and offers a range of vocational, occupational and business-related programmes designed to support workforce development.

Its collaboration with INSETA highlights the increasing importance of partnerships between colleges and industry stakeholders in tackling youth unemployment and skills shortages.

Who Can Apply?

The 2026 Work Integrated Learning Programme is specifically targeted at students who have completed qualifications within selected Report 191 Business Studies programmes.

Applications are being accepted from students who have completed N4 to N6 studies or who possess a DHET Statement of Results in the following fields:

• Management Assistant
• Human Resource Management
• Financial Management

These disciplines align closely with the administrative, financial and operational functions commonly found within insurance companies and related businesses.

Programme Duration and Industry Exposure

Unlike short-term internships that last only a few months, the WIL Programme will run for a full 18 months.

This extended duration provides participants with the opportunity to gain meaningful workplace exposure, understand organisational processes, and develop professional competencies that employers often consider essential when hiring graduates.

The placements will occur within insurance organisations located across the Gert Sibande Region, creating opportunities for participants to learn directly from professionals operating in the sector.

Eligibility Requirements

The programme includes several eligibility criteria designed to ensure opportunities reach young unemployed graduates who require workplace experience.

Applicants must:

• Be between 18 and 35 years old
• Be South African citizens
• Be unemployed
• Have no criminal record
• Be proficient in English
• Be willing to work within the insurance sector and funeral parlours
• Not currently be studying
• Not intend to study during the programme period
• Not be participating in another learnership, internship or training programme
• Be registered or former Gert Sibande TVET College students
• Hold N4 to N6 Certificates or a DHET Statement of Results in an approved field of study

The programme organisers have also noted that students currently involved in volunteer work, particularly outside the insurance industry, are discouraged from applying.

Documents Applicants Must Prepare

One of the most important parts of the application process is ensuring all required documentation is submitted correctly.

Applicants must provide:

• An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Originally certified copy of a South African ID
• Originally certified copy of a Matric Certificate
• Originally certified copy of an NCV Certificate (where applicable)
• Originally certified copies of N4, N5 and N6 Certificates or a DHET Statement of Results

All certified documents must be no older than six months. Failure to meet this requirement could result in disqualification.

Application Process Explained

The application process has been designed to accommodate students across the college’s various campuses.

Applicants may hand-deliver their documents to:

• Student Support Services (SSS) Offices
• Career Guidance and Job Placement Offices

Alternatively, applications may be submitted electronically to designated campus representatives.

Campus Contacts

Balfour Campus
Contact Person: Ms Lerato Seemela
Email: seemela.l@gscollege.edu.za

Evander Campus
Contact Person: Mr Mzukisi Mbethe
Email: mbethe.mc@gscollege.edu.za

Ermelo Campus
Contact Person: Mr Sabelo Sikhosana
Email: sikhosana.s@gscollege.edu.za

Sibanesetfu Campus
Contact Person: Ms Thabelang Mashabela
Email: mashabela.rc@gscollege.edu.za

Standerton Campus
Contact Person: Mr Xolani Mkhonto
Email: mkhonto.xd@gscollege.edu.za

Perdekop Campus
Contact Person: Ms Moratua Sigasa
Email: sigasa.ma@gscollege.edu.za

Important Deadline for 2026 Applications

Prospective applicants should take note of the programme’s strict closing date.

Application Closing Date: 01 June 2026 at 12:00

The college has warned that:

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
• Late applications may not be considered
• Incomplete applications may be disqualified

Students are therefore encouraged to submit applications well before the deadline to avoid administrative issues.

What This Means for TVET Graduates

The launch of the INSETA Work Integrated Learning Programme comes at a time when practical workplace training remains a crucial component of career development in South Africa.

For graduates in Management Assistant, Human Resource Management and Financial Management programmes, the initiative offers more than temporary work exposure. It provides a structured pathway into a professional environment where participants can develop industry-relevant competencies, build networks, and strengthen their employment prospects.

As employers increasingly prioritise candidates with demonstrated workplace experience, programmes such as this one continue to play an important role in helping young South Africans transition from education into meaningful careers.

Looking Ahead

The Gert Sibande TVET College and INSETA partnership represents another example of how educational institutions and industry stakeholders can work together to address graduate unemployment while strengthening skills development in key sectors of the economy.

For qualifying graduates across the Gert Sibande Region, the 2026 Work Integrated Learning Programme could serve as a valuable stepping stone toward long-term employment in South Africa’s financial and insurance industries. With applications closing on 01 June 2026, interested candidates have a limited window to secure a place in a programme designed to transform qualifications into practical career opportunities.