The Western Cape Government, through the Premier’s Advancement of Youth (PAY) project, recognises the need to fight youth unemployment. About 70% of South Africa’s youth are currently unemployed.

The PAY project was set up to give Western Cape youth an opportunity to get into the labour market at an early age. The project provides learners who finished matric in the previous year with the opportunity of a one-year internship the next year.

The Department offers PAY interns an opportunity of exposure and experience in agriculture, beginning with;

• A two week orientation programme.
• A rotation of experience and exposure throughout the Department
• A year of career pathing, skills development, mentoring and coaching.
• Assisting the PAY interns to improve their matric results through rewriting their subjects, after an intense tutoring programme offered by the Department, before their exams in November.
• Outstanding PAY interns who have express a desire to further their studies in agriculture, may be offered a full bursary.
• All PAY interns will receive a testimonial at the end of 12months and their CVs will be updated, making them more marketable.

When can you apply?

Who Qualifies for the PAY Internship?

• Learners who were unable to further their studies and are unemployed.
• Learners who have passed the National Senior Certificate (NSC) in the previous year in The Western Cape qualify to apply.
• Learners who are South African citizens.
• Learners who have no network or support to help them make career choices.

Duration of all Internships

The duration of an Internship for matriculants, student and graduate interns is for 12 months.

Placement

• Interns are placed within the Western Cape Department of Agriculture which has offices operating in the broader Western Cape. (Identified, interns may be placed with External Host Employers to obtain relevant work exposure).
• Interns are placed under the supervision of an experienced mentor.
• Interns are subjected to signing an Internship Contract.
• Interns are expected to submit quarterly reports on progress.
• The mentor and the intern agree on the learning objectives for the intern which becomes the key outputs of their Performance Agreement.
• Interns are expected to enter into a Performance Agreement and
• Quarterly performance reviews will be conducted.
• Where an intern is placed with an External Host Employer, the internship will be fully monitored by the Department. Regular site visits, meetings with the mentor, intern and External Host Employer will be conducted. The intern will be appointed as a Western Cape Department of Agriculture Intern.