The Harry Gwala District Municipality, located in Ixopo, is inviting applications for its Internship Programme. If you’re a young professional looking to gain valuable work experience in a government setting, this is an excellent opportunity to kick-start your career.
Allowance: R6,500 per month
Duration: 12 months
Due Date: 15:00 on 19 July 2025
Internships Available
The Harry Gwala District Municipality is looking for young, energetic individuals aged between 18 and 35 years. The municipality is offering a stipend of R6,500 per month for a period of 12 months. The available internships span across two key areas:
- Legal Studies (Office of the Municipal Manager)
Number of Interns: 1
Qualifications: National Diploma in Legal Studies
Ref No: MM/Intern/5/5/4/2/1
- Human Resources (Corporate Services)
Number of Interns: 2
Qualifications: National Diploma in Human Resources
Ref No: COP/Intern/5/5/4/2/1
These internships provide invaluable experience in the public sector, helping candidates develop practical skills in their respective fields of study.
In line with the municipality’s vision, “Together We Deliver and Grow,” they are offering internships across various departments. The programme provides successful candidates with the opportunity to learn, develop, and contribute to the growth of the community.
Application Method: Online submission via the Harry Gwala District Municipality website or direct delivery to the municipal offices.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for these internships, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Age: Between 18 and 35 years old.
- Qualifications: A National Diploma in the relevant field (Legal Studies or Human Resources).
- Application Form: Completed and signed application forms, which can be found on the Harry Gwala District Municipality’s official website.
- Additional Documents: A comprehensive CV, certified copies of academic qualifications, identity documents, and proof of residence.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must submit their applications by no later than 15:00 on 19 July 2025. Applications must be addressed to:
Mrs T.T. Thiyane-Maqaqa, Executive Director: Corporate Services
Harry Gwala District Municipality
Private Bag X501, Ixopo, 3276
Alternatively, applications can be hand-delivered to 40 Main Street, Ixopo, 3276 or emailed to recruitment@harrygwaladm.gov.za.
Please note that the municipality does not accept faxed applications, and only those submitted through the correct channels will be considered.
Important Notes
Shortlisted Candidates: Only candidates who have been shortlisted will be contacted within two weeks of the closing date. If you do not hear from the municipality, kindly assume that your application was unsuccessful.
No Canvassing: Any attempts to influence or canvass Councillors or Management will lead to immediate disqualification.
National Equity Strategy: The Harry Gwala District Municipality is committed to the National Equity Strategy and encourages applications from all qualified individuals.
The Harry Gwala District Municipality offers a fantastic platform for young professionals to gain significant work experience in the public sector. With a competitive stipend and the chance to develop professionally, this internship programme is ideal for individuals looking to make a meaningful impact while enhancing their career prospects.
In the final years of the apartheid Government, and upon the insistence and pressure from the commercial sector, an effort was made to address the inequality of basic service delivery into the rural areas. In order to address this issue, 6 Joint Services Boards were established, and activated within the boundaries of the Province.
Subsequent to such establishment and after the 1994 elections which heralded the commencement of the transition phase of Local Government, these Joint Services Boards, with some boundary adjustments, formed the basis upon which the Transitional Regional Councils were formed and established, who in terms of the Local Government Transition Act and a specific Proclamation (LG54) were tasked with the municipal administration of all areas outside the boundaries of the Transitional Local Councils, being the so called ‘Remaining Areas’ In respect to this narrative, the Midlands and East Griqualand Joint Services Boards, together with the subsequent Ugu and Ndlovu Transitional Regional Councils, have pertinence.
Immediately prior to the 2000 Local Government Elections, and in line with the Constitutional transformation of Local Government, the boundaries of District Council No.43, as it was then referred to, were defined by the Demarcation Board. This newly defined area inherited portions of the former Ndlovu and Ugu Transitional Regional Councils and comprises 5 Category ‘B’ or local municipalities, namely; KwaSani, Greater Kokstad, Matatiele, Ingiwe and Ubuhlebezwe, the latter municipalities reestablished from the former Ixopo, Creighton, Kokstad, Cedarville, Underberg, Himeville and Matatiele Transitional Local Councils.
District municipality (DC43) was established, over this area, in terms of Section 12 of the Municipal Structures Act and subsequently the elected and appointed Councillors took up office at that time, ‘in principle’, and appointed officer bearers, namely the Mayor Cllr J.P. Khoza, The Speaker Cllr M. M. Nyembezi, Deputy Mayor Cllr C. M. Ngcobo and the Executive Committee members who were nominated and elected from the first meeting of Council.
The Hon.Mayor Cllr J.P. Khoza recounts the days when his Council and Executive Committee met at the Off-Saddle Hotel in Ixopo and otherwise operated from their vehicles via cellular telephone. During that period, the Municipal Manager was in an acting capacity and ‘on loan’ and working from the uMgungundlovu District Municipality and no permanent staff appointments had been had been finalized.
These early years were not easy and the fledgling municipality had to endure many difficulties, not the least of which being that, as a “new” municipality, Council were hampered by an inadequate funding, an absence of an administrative staff establishment and the almost complete absence of equipment and facilities. These difficulties were in turn exacerbated by complications with the apportionment of existent resources from the former Ugu and Ndlovu Transitional Regional Municipalities.
With support and guidance from the other spheres of Government, a consortium of service providers was appointed to establish and implement the necessary administrative and financial systems and to guide Council in the appointment of a permanent Municipal Manager, where from, during October 2001, Mr. N. M. Mabaso was appointed into that position and in turn he was involved in the appointment of the other Section 57 staff, or Heads of Department. As a consequence of these appointments, under the leadership of Mr.Mabaso, the municipality began to function, albeit from rented premises, and Council were able to concentrate their attentions on their political functions.
One of the early functions of this fledgling Council and its administration was to entitle the municipality and so the Harry Gwala District Municipality was borne and duly christened, the chronicle of this christening will be recounted herein. In spite of these birthing difficulties and growing pains, the municipality has been able to meet and, to a large extent, begin to address the challenges which face it in relation to the state of development and demographics of the area that it has been tasked to administer.