Sasol learnerships offer South Africans the opportunity to gain occupational experience and workplace exposure in technical, production and business administration fields.
Programmes can vary significantly according to the occupation, with some spanning 12 months while others – particularly technical and production-related programmes – can take up to 36 months to complete due to the volume of occupational plus workplace training.
The issue of relevance to prospective applicants is the fact that no generic set of requirements or stipend applies to all Sasol learnerships. Every intake has its own advertisement, eligibility criteria, location, duration and closing date.
What is a Sasol learnership?
A Sasol learnership is a formalised training programme offering participants the opportunity to gain occupational experience and workplace exposure simultaneously.
The opportunities are broad ranging and relevant to those considering technical, artisan, production, maintenance or administrative occupations. Depending on the programme, participants can be exposed to both occupational training as well as the practical component.
Such dual exposure is beneficial to job seekers, particularly those in need of practical experience.
Which fields are offered?
Sasol learnership opportunities typically cover a range of occupations. Depending on the intake, fields may include:
- Chemical Plant Operations
- Electrical
- Instrumentation
- Fitting
- Turning
- Welding
- Boilermaking
- Business Administration
- Production-related occupations
- Maintenance-related occupations
The inclusion of a specific occupation in one intake does not guarantee its availability in another. Applicants must always refer to the current advertisement for confirmation of which fields are open.
What are the requirements?
Eligibility criteria differ according to the occupation.
Depending on the learnership, applicants may be required to have:
- Grade 12 or National Senior Certificate, or equivalent
- Mathematics or Technical Mathematics
- English
- Physical Science or Technical Science
- N3 or other technical qualification for certain artisan programmes
- South African citizenship
- And other occupation-specific requirements
Technical occupations tend to have higher academic requirements than administrative occupations.
Applicants should therefore read the vacancy notice in its entirety before applying. Having the qualifications listed in a generic Sasol learnership guide does not automatically qualify an applicant for any intake.
How long does a Sasol learnership last?
Programmes can vary in duration according to the occupation and training.
While some intakes can last approximately 12 months, technical and production-related learnerships can be extended to 36 months.
Longer programmes typically involve a greater volume of occupational and workplace training, particularly if the programme involves technical or artisan training.
The duration should always be confirmed from the advertisement for the specific programme.
Do Sasol learnerships offer a stipend?
Certain Sasol learnerships offer a stipend, but there is no standard amount that applies to all programmes.
The stipend varies from programme to programme. Applicants must not rely on information from previous advertisements or social media posts when applying for current intakes. The safest option is to rely on the stipend amount listed in the advertisement of the intake being applied for.
Is a Sasol learnership a permanent job?
Not necessarily. A learnership should not be assumed as a permanent employment opportunity.
Many learnerships are offered on a contractual basis with the primary purpose of occupational training and workplace exposure. Upon successful completion of a programme, there is no guarantee of permanent employment with Sasol.
That said, successfully completing a Sasol learnership provides participants with the opportunity to build skills and gain practical exposure in a technical or production-related occupation.
Why can a Sasol learnership be valuable?
To a South African entering the job market, one of the most appealing aspects of a learnership is the combination of formal training plus practical workplace exposure.
This is particularly true of technical and industrial occupations, where prospective employers tend to favour candidates with practical experience.
For a young South African considering a career in engineering-related occupations, manufacturing, maintenance, production or administration, a learnership provides the opportunity to build occupation-specific skills plus workplace exposure simultaneously.
Where are Sasol learnerships offered?
The location depends on the intake and occupation.
Applicants should not assume that every Sasol learnership is offered at the same location. The specific location for an advertised programme should be confirmed from the advertisement itself.
This is particularly important for those who would have to relocate for training.
How to apply for a Sasol learnership
Applicants should follow the application instructions provided in the current Sasol learnership advertisement.
Before applying, confirm:
- The occupation: Does the programme match your qualifications and career interests?
- Academic requirements: Do you have the necessary qualifications (Mathematics, Technical Mathematics, Physical Science or Technical Science)?
- Citizenship requirements: Are you eligible for the learnership? Certain intakes require South African citizenship.
- Location: Where will the training and workplace component take place?
- Programme duration: How long will the learnership last?
- Stipend: What amount is applicable? Always use the advertised stipend and not amounts quoted on social media.
- Closing date: What is the deadline for applications? Apply before the stated closing date.
- Application instructions: Make use of the advertised application method and not generic links to application portals.
What applicants should know before applying
A common misconception is that all Sasol learnerships have identical requirements. This is incorrect.
The occupation, academic requirements, duration, location, stipend and closing date can change from one intake to the next. The requirements for an artisan-related programme, for example, can be significantly different than an occupation in business administration.
Applicants should assess the vacancy based on the specific advertisement.
It is also important to understand the difference between a learnership and permanent employment. A learnership is a formalised training programme which does not guarantee permanent employment.
Fact-checking and editorial information
Fact-checking: This article was prepared using the supplied Sasol learnership information as the factual basis. Programme-specific details should be verified from the relevant official Sasol advertisement before making an application.
Editorial approach: The information has been independently organised and presented to South African readers. No claim about a specific intake, stipend, closing date or vacancy has been made unless it is supported by the supplied information.
Corrections: If a factual error is identified, it should be reviewed against the relevant official programme information and corrected promptly.
