Explore the Department of Tourism Culinary Skills Programme 2026/2027, offering 12 months of training and an advertised R200 daily stipend.

Department of Tourism Culinary Skills Programme 2026/2027

Starting a career in hospitality can be difficult when you have a Matric certificate but little or no work experience. The Department of Tourism Culinary Skills Programme 2026/2027 may offer an opportunity for eligible unemployed young South Africans to develop practical skills in food preparation and food service.

The programme focuses on two training areas: Professional Cookery and Food and Beverage Services. According to the supplied vacancy information, the training lasts 12 months, and successful beneficiaries are advertised to receive a stipend of R200 per day.

Young people interested in restaurants, hotels, catering, food preparation and the wider tourism industry may find this opportunity worth considering.

Applications are advertised as closing on 18 October 2026. Candidates should review the eligibility criteria and programme details before proceeding to the application information on the next page.

Department of Tourism Culinary Skills Programme: Overview

Here are the main details provided for the 2026/2027 programme.

• Organisation: South African Department of Tourism
• Programme: Culinary Skills Programme 2026/2027
• Training areas: Professional Cookery and Food and Beverage Services
• Duration: 12 months
• Advertised stipend: R200 per day
• Minimum qualification: Matric or Grade 12
• Age requirement: 18–35 years
• Target group: Unemployed young South Africans
• Provinces: Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, North West and Free State
• People with disabilities: Encouraged to apply
• Advertised application method: Online application using Microsoft Forms
• Advertised closing date: 18 October 2026

These details are based on the supplied programme announcement. Applicants should confirm any outstanding conditions through the official recruitment information.

What Is the Department of Tourism Culinary Skills Programme?

The Department of Tourism Culinary Skills Programme is advertised as a 12-month skills development opportunity for young people interested in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

Rather than requiring applicants to already hold a university degree or hospitality diploma, the supplied announcement lists Matric as the minimum educational requirement.

The two training areas cover different aspects of hospitality work. Professional Cookery is relevant to people interested in preparing food, while Food and Beverage Services relates to serving customers and supporting food service operations.

Both areas can help participants develop knowledge that is relevant to hospitality workplaces. However, the specific curriculum, practical placement arrangements and accreditation details have not been provided in the supplied announcement.

Who Should Consider This Opportunity?

The programme may be suitable for unemployed young people who want to begin developing hospitality skills after completing Grade 12.

You may want to consider this opportunity if you:

• Have completed Matric and are looking for a skills development programme.
• Are between 18 and 35 years old.
• Are currently unemployed.
• Have an interest in cooking, catering, restaurants or hospitality services.
• Want to explore career opportunities within the tourism industry.
• Live in one of the seven advertised participating provinces.

Meeting these points does not automatically guarantee acceptance. Applicants should check the full official eligibility conditions before submitting an application.

Minimum Requirements

According to the supplied programme information, applicants should meet the following basic criteria:

1. Educational qualification

A Matric certificate or Grade 12 is listed as the minimum qualification.

2. Age

The advertised age range is 18 to 35 years.

3. Employment status

The programme targets unemployed youth.

4. Location

Training opportunities are advertised in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, North West and Free State.

5. Interest in hospitality

An interest in professional cooking or food and beverage services is relevant to the programme’s two training areas.

The announcement also encourages people with disabilities to apply. Any additional documentation, selection conditions or province-specific requirements should be confirmed through the official application information.

What Will Participants Learn?

The supplied announcement identifies two areas of training but does not provide a detailed list of modules. Nevertheless, the fields indicate the types of hospitality skills the programme is intended to develop.

Professional Cookery

This training area is relevant to people interested in kitchen work and food preparation. Depending on the confirmed curriculum, professional cookery training may cover food preparation techniques, kitchen procedures, food hygiene and safe handling practices.

Candidates who enjoy working with food may wish to explore this option.

Food and Beverage Services

Food and Beverage Services is relevant to hospitality operations where meals and refreshments are served to customers.

Depending on the actual training content, the field may relate to customer service, food service procedures, communication and maintaining service standards.

The exact modules and practical training arrangements have not been confirmed in the supplied announcement.

What Is the Stipend?

The advertised stipend is R200 per day.

This is a daily amount, not a confirmed monthly salary. The total a participant may receive will depend on the programme’s payment rules, attendance requirements and the number of eligible days paid.

The supplied announcement does not specify the payment schedule, whether weekends are included or the conditions attached to stipend payments. Candidates should verify these details before accepting a place.

Where Is the Programme Available?

The opportunity is advertised in seven provinces:

• Gauteng
• Limpopo
• Mpumalanga
• Eastern Cape
• Northern Cape
• North West
• Free State

The announcement does not specify the exact training venues, the number of available places in each province or whether candidates can choose their preferred location.

Applicants should check the official recruitment information for details relevant to their province.