Tourism internship turns green skills into career opportunities

Mafusi Mokoena is one step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a green economy expert after completing the Department of Tourism’s two-year Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) Internship Programme. 

The 31-year-old Electrical Engineering graduate from Maluti Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College in Phuthaditjhaba, Free State, was recognised as one of the programme’s top three achievers.

Mokoena was part of the Tourism Resources Efficiency Programme (TREP), which equips graduates with practical skills in resource efficiency and sustainable tourism practices. 

The 2026 TREP cohort recently graduated at the National Botanical Gardens in Pretoria, receiving South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) – recognised National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 8 certificates for successfully completing the programme.

The programme provides young graduates with practical skills in resource-efficient and cleaner production methods, including how to manage energy, water and other resources efficiently while reducing waste, emissions and environmental impact.

The Department of Tourism partnered with the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA) to provide theoretical and on-the-job training to young engineering, environmental and science graduates during the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years. 

As part of the 24-month programme, graduates were placed at 19 South African National Parks (SANParks) and South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) sites to gain hands-on experience in resource efficiency while supporting sustainability initiatives in the tourism sector.

Mokoena was placed at Golden Gate Highlands National Park, where she gained experience in energy and water monitoring, data collection, reporting, inspections and sustainability initiatives. She also worked with the technical team, gaining exposure to maintenance, infrastructure operations and problem-solving.

“I got exposed to numerous tasks and learnt a lot about using technology,” she said. 

Fellow top achiever Seima Madiba was placed at Lower Sabie in the Kruger National Park. His background includes working as a junior lecturer at North West University and as an environmental officer during the rehabilitation of the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens.

Madiba said the internship has broadened his knowledge beyond tourism and strengthened his ambition to become a full-time environmental consultant.

“I had an interest in sustainability, and this internship was an introduction to becoming a consultant,” he said. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Department of Tourism Chief Director: Enterprise Development Sibonelo Nzimande said greening programmes are important to the sustainability of the tourism sector. He said the skills gained by the graduates would contribute to the Department’s efforts to increase the adoption of greening and responsible tourism practices among tourism businesses. 

For more information about the Department of Tourism visit: www.tourism.gov.za