The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) has opened applications for the National Youth Service (NYS) Programme Phase V 2026, offering 100,000 paid community service opportunities for unemployed youth across all nine provinces of South Africa.
Programme Overview
- Programme: National Youth Service (NYS) Phase V
- Opportunities Available: 100,000
- Location: Nationwide (All 9 Provinces)
- Duration: 6 Months (384 Hours)
- Age Requirement: 18–35 years
- Stipend: Approximately R1,547 per month
- Hourly Rate: R24.18 per hour
- Application Cost: Free
- Application Platform: SA Youth
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be a South African citizen.
- Have a valid South African ID.
- Be between 18 and 35 years old.
- Be unemployed.
- Live within the municipality/community where the project is located.
- Be able to access the project site.
- Be willing to participate in community service activities.
- Commit to the full programme duration.
- Not have participated in previous phases of the National Youth Service Programme.
Priority Will Be Given To
- Youth who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
- Unemployed youth.
- Young people living with disabilities.
Community Service Areas
Successful applicants may be placed in:
- Sports and recreation
- Community works and greening projects
- Learner support programmes
- Early Childhood Development (ECD)
- Food security and nutrition
- Arts, culture and entertainment
- Social support services
- Surveys and digital mapping
- Youth voter education
Benefits
Participants will:
- Earn a monthly stipend.
- Gain practical work experience.
- Improve their CV.
- Develop workplace and life skills.
- Build professional networks.
- Increase employability for future jobs, internships and learnerships.
How to Apply
- Visit the SA Youth Platform. APPLY HERE
- Register an account (if you do not already have one).
- Log in and complete your profile.
- Search for National Youth Service opportunities in your area.
- Submit your application online.
Closing Date
No official closing date has been announced. Applications are expected to remain open until available opportunities are filled, so applying as soon as possible is recommended.