The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) Invites South African Graduates to Apply for the New Announced Tourism Graduate Programme for Unemployed Graduates for the Academic year 2026 (X82 Posts).
About KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA)
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs is mandated to oversee the socio-economic transformation in the province. It therefore leads the policy and strategic initiatives directed at promoting development and growth in various sectors of the economy. However, to achieve its objectives, the Department has to co-operate with various stakeholders and social partners that include the private sector and civil society. National and provincial legislative, policy and strategic frameworks guide the operations of the Department. Some of the national acts that are critical to the operations of this portfolio are the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, particularly Schedule 6 which stipulates the competences of the provincial government on matters of economic development and the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) among other sector specific acts.
Overview of the KZN EDTEA Tourism Graduate Programme 2026
Below is a summary of the key information about the programme.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme Name | Tourism Graduate Development Programme (TGDP) 2026 |
| Department | KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) |
| Programme Duration | 24 months |
| Fields of Study | Tourism Management, Hospitality Management, Travel and Tourism, Ecotourism Management |
| Total Opportunities | 62 Internship Placements & 20 In-Service Training Placements |
| Stipend | Monthly stipend will be paid to successful participants |
| Closing Date | 25 March 2026 |
| Application Email | TGDP@kznedtea.gov.za |
Programme Placement Areas and Reference Numbers
Applicants must state the reference number and placement area they are applying for when submitting their application.
Below are the official host employers and reference numbers listed in the advert.
Amajuba District Municipality Opportunities
Host employers include:
- Emadlangeni Municipality — Reference: TGDP/2026/EMAD
- Newcastle Municipality — Reference: TGDP/2026/NEW
- Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (Chelmsford) — Reference: TGDP/2026/CHELM
Fields include:
- Tourism Management
- Ecotourism Management
- Hospitality Management
eThekwini Metro and Durban Tourism Opportunities
Available placements include:
- eThekwini Metro (Durban Tourism) — Reference: TGDP/2026/METRO
- Msinsi Holdings (Nagle Dam) — Reference: TGDP/2026/NAG
- UShaka Marine World — Reference: TGDP/2026/USHAKA
These placements provide direct exposure to some of the most visited tourism destinations in KwaZulu-Natal.
Harry Gwala District Municipality Opportunities
Placements available at:
- Harry Gwala Development Agency — TGDP/2026/HGDA
- Greater Kokstad Municipality — TGDP/2026/GKLM
- Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Municipality — TGDP/2026/NDZ
- Johannes Phumani Phungula Municipality — TGDP/2026/JPPM
- uMzimkhulu Municipality — TGDP/2026/UMZIM
- Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (Lotheni) — TGDP/2026/LOTH
iLembe District Municipality Opportunities
Placements available at:
- iLembe Enterprise — TGDP/2026/ILEM
- KwaDukuza Municipality — TGDP/2026/KWAD
- Mandeni Municipality — TGDP/2026/MAND
- Maphumulo Municipality — TGDP/2026/MAPH
- Ndwedwe Municipality — TGDP/2026/NDWE
- Msinsi Holdings (Hazelmere Dam) — TGDP/2026/HAZE
King Cetshwayo District Municipality Opportunities
Available placements include:
- King Cetshwayo District Municipality — TGDP/2026/KCDM
- uMhlathuze Municipality — TGDP/2026/UMHL
- Mthonjaneni Municipality — TGDP/2026/MTHO
- Nkandla Municipality — TGDP/2026/NKAN
- uMfolozi Municipality — TGDP/2026/UMFO
- uMlalazi Municipality — TGDP/2026/UMLA
Ugu District Municipality Opportunities
- South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise — TGDP/2026/SCTIE
- uMuziwabantu Municipality — TGDP/2026/UMUZ
- Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (Oribi Gorge) — TGDP/2026/ORIBI
uMgungundlovu District Municipality Opportunities
Placements available at:
- Impendle Municipality — TGDP/2026/IMPE
- Mkhambathini Municipality — TGDP/2026/MKHA
- Mpofana Municipality — TGDP/2026/MPOF
- Richmond Municipality — TGDP/2026/RICH
- uMshwathi Municipality — TGDP/2026/UMSH
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife:
- Wagendrift — TGDP/2026/WAGE
- Midmar — TGDP/2026/MIDM
- Central Reservations — TGDP/2026/QEP
- Rhino Club — TGDP/2026/RHIN
- Travel Trade — TGDP/2026/TRAV
Msinsi Holdings:
- Albert Falls — TGDP/2026/ALBE
- Bon Accord — TGDP/2026/BONA
uMkhanyakude District Municipality Opportunities
- Umhlosinga Development Agency — TGDP/2026/UMDA
- Big 5 Hlabisa Municipality — TGDP/2026/BIG5
- Mtubatuba Municipality — TGDP/2026/MTUB
- uMhlabuyalingana Municipality — TGDP/2026/BUYA
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife:
- Hilltop — TGDP/2026/HILL
- Mpila Camp — TGDP/2026/MPIL
uMzinyathi District Municipality Opportunities
- Endumeni Municipality — TGDP/2026/ENDUM
- Nquthu Municipality — TGDP/2026/NQUT
- uMvoti Municipality — TGDP/2026/UMVOT
uThukela District Municipality Opportunities
- uThukela Economic Development Agency — TGDP/2026/UEDA
- Alfred Duma Municipality — TGDP/2026/ADLM
- Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality — TGDP/2026/ILLM
- Okhahlamba Municipality — TGDP/2026/OKHA
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife placements include:
- Didima — TGDP/2026/DID
- Giants Castle — TGDP/2026/GIAN
- Royal Natal Mahai — TGDP/2026/MAHAI
- Royal Natal Thendele — TGDP/2026/THEN
Zululand District Municipality Opportunities
- Zululand District Municipality — TGDP/2026/ZDM
- eDumbe Municipality — TGDP/2026/EDUM
- Nongoma Municipality — TGDP/2026/NONG
- Ulundi Municipality — TGDP/2026/ULUN
- uPhongolo Municipality — TGDP/2026/UPHON
- Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (Ntshondwe / Ithala Game Reserve) — TGDP/2026/NTSHO
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Requirements for Tourism Graduates
Applicants must have:
A three-year Degree or National Diploma in:
- Tourism Management
- Hospitality Management
- Travel and Tourism
- Ecotourism Management
Applicants must submit:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Matric Certificate
- Qualification and academic transcript
- Copy of South African ID
- Proof of residence from municipality or traditional authority
Affidavits will not be accepted as proof of residence.
Application Closing Date
The closing date for applications is: 25 March 2026
Late applications may not be considered, so applicants are encouraged to submit their applications early.
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How to Apply for the KZN EDTEA Tourism Graduate Programme 2026
Applicants can submit applications directly to host employer offices or EDTEA district offices.
Interested applicants must submit their applications before the closing date.
Below are some official submission addresses from the advert.
Amajuba District Municipality
Unit B9356 Amajuba Building
Section 1 Madadeni
Emadlangeni Municipality
34 Voor Street
Utrecht
2980
Newcastle Municipality
37 Murchison Street
Newcastle
Durban Tourism (eThekwini Metro)
North Beach Tourism Office
2 KE Masinga Road
North Beach
Durban
Msinsi Holdings
Nagle Dam
Lot 183 Cato Ridge Rural
3681
Ushaka Marine World
1 King Shaka Avenue
Point
Durban
4001
EDTEA District Office Application Addresses
Applicants may also submit applications to EDTEA district offices.
EDTEA Tourism Office
Calder House
217 Burger Street
Pietermaritzburg
3201
eThekwini District Office
Marine Building
8th Floor
22 Dorothy Nyembe Street
Durban
Ugu District Office
46 Bisset Street
Port Shepstone
Harry Gwala District Office
139a Margaret Street
Trigon Place
Ixopo
Amajuba District Office
43 Harding Street
Newcastle
Zululand District Office
2nd Floor Legislature Building
King Dinuzulu Highway
Ulundi
