2026/2027 APPRENTICESHIP AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNERSHIP PROGRAMMES
The Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) is a Schedule 3 Government Component of the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG), established in terms of Section 7(5) of the Public Service Act, 1994, as amended. MISA’s mandate is to provide technical support and strengthen the technical capacity of municipalities to enable them to effectively and efficiently plan, deliver, operate and maintain municipal infrastructure.
MISA hereby invites suitably qualified and eligible applicants to apply for opportunities under its 2026/2027 Apprenticeship and Experiential Learnership Programmes. These programmes are aimed at providing structured training, practical workplace exposure and skills development opportunities to unemployed youth, apprentices, graduates and learners who require Work Integrated Learning (WIL) or practical workplace experience as part of their academic requirements.
Successful candidates will be placed at municipalities identified by MISA as host municipalities. Applicants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the list of participating municipalities available on the MISA and CoGTA websites.
A. MISA APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME
The MISA Apprenticeship Programme is a three-year structured learnership programme aimed at facilitating the training and development of learners towards becoming qualified artisans. The programme combines theoretical training with practical, on-the-job workplace experience, enabling successful candidates to develop the technical knowledge, practical skills and competencies required within their respective trades.
The programme is primarily targeted at unemployed youth from TVET Colleges and other accredited training institutions who possess relevant qualifications for admission into the specified artisanal trades.
Although the programme is not exclusively limited to individuals from historically disadvantaged communities, MISA encourages historically disadvantaged individuals to apply as part of its commitment to skills development, transformation and addressing technical capacity and service delivery backlogs within municipalities.
Successful candidates will enter into a three-year learnership contract with MISA and will be placed with a MISA-identified host municipality. The recruitment process is aimed at a cohort that will commence during the 2026/2027 financial year.
Applicants are required to clearly indicate the name of the municipality where they would prefer to be placed during the learning period. A list of MISA-identified host municipalities is available on the MISA and CoGTA websites.
TARGETED TRADES
The MISA Apprenticeship Programme will target the following trades:
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Bricklaying
• Motor Mechanic
• Diesel Mechanic
MINIMUM ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Electrical – REF NO: Electrical 2026/01
Applicants must meet one of the following minimum requirements:
• Engineering Science or a full N2 Engineering Certificate consisting of four subjects, including the relevant trade theory, namely Engineering Science, Industrial Electronics, Mathematics and the fourth subject relevant to the required trade; OR
• Technical trade theory programmes quality-assured by a SETA and deemed equivalent to NQF Level 3; OR
• Relevant Engineering NC(V) Certificate with seven subjects at NQF Level 3; OR
• Technical Grade 11 with Mathematics, Science, a language subject and a related trade theory subject; OR
• Relevant N6 Certificate or National Technical Diploma (T, S or N Stream), directly related to the trade theory subjects.
Plumbing – REF NO: Plumbing 2026/02
Applicants must meet the minimum academic requirements applicable to admission into the Plumbing trade as prescribed by the MISA Apprenticeship Programme.
Bricklaying – REF NO: Bricklaying 2026/03
Applicants must meet the minimum academic requirements applicable to admission into the Bricklaying trade as prescribed by the MISA Apprenticeship Programme.
Motor Mechanic – REF NO: Motor Mechanic 2026/04
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
• Technical Grade 12 with Mathematics; OR
• Engineering Science or a full N2 Engineering Certificate consisting of four subjects, including Engineering Science, Industrial Electronics, Mathematics and Motor Mechanic Trade Theory; OR
• N3 Engineering consisting of four subjects with the relevant trade theory, including Engineering Science, Industrial Electronics, Mathematics and Motor Mechanic Trade Theory.
Diesel Mechanic – REF NO: Diesel Mechanic 2026/05
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
• Technical Grade 12 with Mathematics; OR
• Engineering Science or a full N2 Engineering Certificate consisting of four subjects with the relevant trade theory, including Engineering Science, Industrial Electronics, Mathematics and Diesel/Motor Trade Theory; OR
• N3 Engineering consisting of four subjects with the relevant trade theory, including Engineering Science, Industrial Electronics, Mathematics and Diesel Mechanic Trade Theory.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME
Applications for the Apprenticeship Programme, together with all required supporting documentation, must be submitted via email to the relevant address below:
REF: Electrical 2026/01 – CB.electrical@misa.gov.za
REF: Plumbing 2026/02 – CB.plumbing@misa.gov.za
REF: Bricklaying 2026/03 – CB.bricklaying@misa.gov.za
REF: Motor Mechanic 2026/04 – CB.motor@misa.gov.za
REF: Diesel Mechanic 2026/05 – CB.diesel@misa.gov.za
Applicants must ensure that the correct trade, reference number and supporting documentation are included in their application.
B. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNERSHIP PROGRAMME
MISA’s Experiential Learnership Programme is designed to provide practical workplace exposure and learning opportunities to unemployed graduates and unemployed youth who require work experience to enter the labour market or complete the practical requirements of their academic programmes.
The programme seeks to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical workplace experience by giving learners an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in a real working environment while developing valuable technical, professional and workplace skills.
GRADUATES IN TECHNICAL FIELDS
MISA is offering two-year internship and experiential learning opportunities to unemployed graduates in technical fields relevant to municipal infrastructure planning, operations, maintenance and service delivery.
Although the programme is not exclusively limited to individuals from historically disadvantaged communities, MISA encourages historically disadvantaged individuals to apply in support of its commitment to skills development, transformation, improved municipal technical capacity and the reduction of skills shortages within the municipal sector.
The Experiential Learnership Programme is a structured work-based learning opportunity for unemployed graduates from Universities, Universities of Technology and TVET Colleges who require practical workplace exposure and experience to improve their readiness for entry into the labour market.
WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING (WIL)
The programme also provides opportunities to learners who are required to complete between 12 and 24 months of practical work experience or Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in order to fulfil the academic requirements of their respective institutions of higher learning.
Applicants who require WIL must be willing and available for workplace placement for the period required by their institution. Depending on operational requirements and available opportunities, applicants may be required to participate in rotational placements and may be placed at different municipalities or private-sector organisations to obtain adequate and relevant workplace exposure.
Applicants must therefore be willing to travel or relocate to another municipality or participating organisation where necessary. Flexibility regarding placement is an important requirement of the programme.
Please note that MISA does not guarantee permanent employment or any employment opportunity after the successful completion of the apprenticeship, internship, experiential learnership or WIL placement.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for placement in municipal areas where they currently reside, where possible, in order to minimise travelling, relocation and accommodation costs.
Learners who still require Work Integrated Learning to satisfy the requirements of their institutions of higher learning must submit an official release letter from their institution confirming approval to undertake the required workplace exposure.
C. APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ENROLMENT IN THE MISA APPRENTICESHIP AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNERSHIP PROGRAMMES
Applications must be submitted using the official MISA Application Form. Applicants must ensure that the correct reference number for the trade or position applied for is clearly indicated on the application form. The reference number must correspond with the trade or experiential learnership opportunity being applied for.
Applicants must also clearly indicate the name of the municipality they wish to be considered for, in accordance with the list of municipalities identified by MISA.
The MISA Application Form and relevant information can be obtained from the following websites:
Alternatively, applicants may request the application form via email at misarecruitment2026@misa.gov.za.
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION:
• Completed MISA Application Form, clearly indicating the reference number of the trade or position applied for and the preferred municipality;
• Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• Certified copies of relevant qualifications;
• Certified copy of the South African Identity Document;
• Proof of residential address; and
• An official release letter from the applicant’s institution of higher learning confirming approval to undertake work exposure. This requirement applies only to learners who still need to undertake Work Integrated Learning (WIL) or practical workplace exposure in order to satisfy the requirements of their institution.
Applicants must ensure that all required documents are submitted together as one complete application package. All documents must be arranged sequentially according to the order specified under Section C above. Incomplete applications or applications submitted without the required supporting documentation will not be considered.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNERSHIP PROGRAMME
Applications for the Experiential Learnership Programme, together with all required documentation, must be submitted to the relevant email addresses below:
REF NO: 2026A – Electrical: CB.electrical01@misa.gov.za
REF NO: 2026B – Civil: CB.civil@misa.gov.za
REF NO: 2026C – Town Planning: CB.town@misa.gov.za
Applicants must ensure that the correct reference number is clearly indicated on the application form and that the application is sent to the correct email address.
ENQUIRIES
For enquiries relating to the Experiential Learnership Programme, applicants may contact:
Ms Nobuhle Latha: 012 848 5529
Ms Thulisile Mosoeu: 012 848 5515
Ms Kelebogile Mekwa: 012 848 5300
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL APPLICANTS
MISA reserves the right to make or not make appointments or placements arising from this advertisement.
If no response is received from MISA within 90 days after the closing date, applicants must regard their applications as unsuccessful. Due to the high number of applications expected, correspondence regarding the advertised opportunities will be limited to successful candidates and/or shortlisted candidates.
Candidates will be subjected to suitability and verification checks, which may include verification of qualifications, employment history, credit records, criminal records, company ownership and/or directorship and reference checks.
Faxed, posted and hand-delivered applications will not be accepted.
Applications received after the closing date and time will not be considered.
Applications containing fraudulent qualifications, false information or fraudulent documentation will be disqualified.
Successful candidates will be required to undergo a medical fitness assessment.
Direct or indirect canvassing, lobbying or attempts to obtain preferential treatment will result in the disqualification of the relevant applicant.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all information provided in their applications is accurate, complete and truthful.
APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 AT 16:00
NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications well before the closing date and time to avoid delays or technical difficulties that may prevent successful submission.
