Services SETA internships: 20,000 paid places and how to register
Services SETA's To The Power of X² programme offers 20,000 paid 24-month internships for unemployed graduates, with 512 places in the Free State. Here's who qualifies, how to register and which documents you need.
Unemployed graduates can register now for Services SETA's To The Power of X² programme, which aims to place 20,000 people in paid, 24-month internships across all nine provinces (Services SETA; programme website).
The Free State rollout of 512 places launched on 12 November at Motheo TVET College in Bloemfontein, and placements there are expected to start by the end of November 2026 (SABC News).
What do you get?
| Item | What the programme says |
|---|---|
| Places | 20,000 nationally, 512 in the Free State |
| Length | 24 months, full time, in one workplace |
| Support | A named supervisor and a mentor |
| Pay | A monthly stipend for the full 24 months |
| Extra | A laptop for each placed graduate |
| Where | Government departments and private companies in all 9 provinces |
Sources: programme website, Services SETA, SABC News.
The official pages don't publish the stipend amount. Services SETA says it funds the approved stipends and the laptops (Services SETA).
Who can apply?
The programme is for unemployed South African graduates who have completed a post-school or matric qualification (programme website). The registration form asks for your highest qualification, from matric (NQF 4) up, so you can search it by title or SAQA ID (registration form).
How do you register?
- Open the official graduate registration form, linked from tothepowerofx.co.za. It takes about 10 minutes.
- Fill in your ID number, contact details, qualification, employment status and the province and municipality you want to work in. You can choose whether you're willing to move to another province.
- Check your email for a link to set your password and open your portal. The link expires within 48 hours, so check your spam folder too (programme website).
- Upload your documents on the portal.
Registering doesn't guarantee a place. You're matched against approved workplaces on your qualification, field of study, location and what the employer needs (FAQs).
Which documents do you need?
| Document | Rules |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of ID book or card | For a smart ID card, front and back on one page |
| CV | Up to date |
| Certified matric certificate | Certified in the last 6 months. No statement of results |
| Certified highest qualification | Certified in the last 6 months. No statement of results. If matric is your highest, upload it again here |
Source: Required Documents page.
Every file must be a scanned PDF under 8 MB, and photos aren't accepted (Required Documents). If you only have a statement of results, Umalusi says that's a temporary document, not a certificate (Umalusi via SA Government).
How do you avoid fake internship offers?
Only register through tothepowerofx.co.za or the Services SETA page. The official pages don't mention any application fee. For help with your application, the programme's graduate address is [email protected] (FAQs).
When do placements start?
The programme website says first placements started from October 2026, with more intakes as workplaces are approved and graduates matched (programme website). Announcements appear in the Latest Announcements section of the official site (FAQs).
FAQ
How long is the Services SETA internship?
24 months, full time, in one workplace with a supervisor and a mentor, according to the programme website.
How much is the To The Power of X² stipend?
Interns get a monthly stipend for the full 24 months, but the official pages don't publish the amount.
Can I upload my statement of results?
No. The programme asks for certified copies of your matric and highest qualification certificates, certified within the last 6 months.
Does registering guarantee an internship?
No. Graduates are matched to approved workplaces based on qualification, field of study, location and employer needs.
Sources
- SABC News: Services SETA launches 512 Free State internships
- Services SETA: About To The Power of X²
- To The Power of X²: programme website
- To The Power of X²: Required Documents
- To The Power of X²: FAQs
- To The Power of X²: Graduate registration form
- SA Government: Umalusi on statements of results and certificates