Attention all unemployed graduates: the Rand Refinery Graduate Programme 2026 is open right now, and the deadlines are not far away. Six listings close on 13 October 2026, while Sales and Marketing closes on 15 October 2026. There are nine positions across seven listings in Gauteng, and every single one requires a special Excel spreadsheet with your marks. Many graduates with great results lose their chance because they miss this one document. Do not let that happen to you.
What Is the Rand Refinery Graduate Programme 2026?
This programme is sponsored by Rand Refinery through its Supplier Development Initiative. It is built for unemployed graduates who want real workplace experience in the field they studied.
You will follow a structured development plan with practical training, mentorship and work-readiness coaching. The positions are based in the Johannesburg East Rand area of Gauteng.
The position descriptions state 12-month fixed-term contracts. However, some listing pages show wider duration ranges. Confirm the exact contract period before you accept any placement.
- Programme: Rand Refinery Supplier Development Graduate Programme
- Sponsor: Rand Refinery
- Intake: 2026
- Listings: 7
- Positions: 9
- Location: Johannesburg East Rand, Gauteng
- Contract: Fixed-term graduate development contract
- Duration: 12 months in the position descriptions
- Pay: Market-related, amount not disclosed
- Education: Matric plus a relevant completed tertiary qualification
- Academic average: 60%, 65% or 70%, depending on the position
- Closing dates: 13 and 15 October 2026
- How to apply: Online recruitment portal
Because these are supplier-development opportunities, the host organisation and reporting location may differ from Rand Refinery itself. Confirm these details for your chosen position.
The Seven Graduate Positions You Can Choose From
Each listing has its own reference number, qualification rules and academic average. Never assume that qualifying for one position means you qualify for another. Here is the full breakdown.
Sales and Marketing Graduate — Reference SDG20007
- Positions: 1
- Qualification: Diploma or Degree in Marketing or a related field
- Academic average: 70%
- Duration: 12 months in the description
- Closing date: 15 October 2026
This role suits graduates who want experience in sales and marketing activities. You will receive workplace mentoring and work-readiness training, and your daily duties will depend on your host placement.
Open the Official Sales and Marketing Graduate Listing
Business Management Graduate — Reference SDG2001
- Positions: 1
- Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Business Administration, Marketing, Commerce or a related field
- Academic average: 70%
- Duration: 12 months
- Closing date: 13 October 2026
Business Management graduates can build experience in operations, administration and commercial work. Note that this listing specifically requires a completed bachelor’s degree, so check your qualification type before applying.
Open the Official Business Management Graduate Listing
Logistics Graduate — Reference SDG2000
- Positions: 1
- Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma at NQF Level 6 or higher in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, Industrial Engineering or Data Analytics
- Academic average: 60%
- Duration: 12 months in the description
- Closing date: 13 October 2026
This position has the lowest academic requirement of all seven listings. Unlike Business Management, it also accepts National Diplomas at the required NQF level. You could gain exposure to supply-chain coordination, operations and materials management.
Open the Official Logistics Graduate Listing
Electrical Engineering Graduate — Reference SDG20003
- Positions: 1
- Qualification: Completed Electrical Engineering qualification at NQF Level 5, 6 or 7
- Academic average: 65%
- Duration: 12 months
- Closing date: 13 October 2026
This role fits Electrical Engineering graduates who want professional workplace experience. Several qualification levels are accepted, but your Electrical Engineering studies must be complete. Your practical tasks will depend on the host organisation and your development plan.
Open the Official Electrical Engineering Graduate Listing
Sales Graduate — Reference SDG20002
- Positions: 2
- Qualification: National Diploma or Higher Certificate in Chemical Engineering
- Academic average: 70%
- Duration: 12 months
- Closing date: 13 October 2026
Read this one carefully. Although the title says Sales Graduate, the listing asks for Chemical Engineering qualifications, not Marketing or Commerce. If you have a Chemical Engineering background and want technical or commercial sales experience, this could be a smart choice. The exact sales duties are not detailed in the official description.
Open the Official Sales Graduate Listing — 2 Positions
Occupational Health and Safety Graduate — Reference SDG20004
- Positions: 2
- Qualification: Higher National Certificate or National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Occupational Hygiene, or a Bachelor of Environmental Health with Occupational Hygiene
- Academic average: 70%
- Duration: 12 months
- Closing date: 13 October 2026
These positions suit graduates who want careers in workplace safety, health and risk prevention. Check that your qualification title matches one of the fields listed above, because the wording matters.
Open the Official Occupational Health and Safety Graduate Listing
Legal Graduate — Reference SDG20005
- Positions: 1
- Qualification: Completed LLB Degree or an equivalent legal qualification recognised for Candidate Attorney registration
- Academic average: 60%
- Duration: 12 months in the description
- Closing date: 13 October 2026
This listing has an extra rule the others do not have. You must be eligible to enter articles of clerkship and register as a Candidate Attorney with the Legal Practice Council of South Africa. If you plan to count this experience towards your practical vocational training, confirm how the 12 months fits those requirements first.
Open the Official Legal Graduate Listing
Who Can Apply for the Rand Refinery Graduate Programme?
The programme is for unemployed graduates who have finished qualifications relevant to the listed positions. Across all seven listings, you will need:
- A completed Matric qualification
- A relevant completed tertiary qualification
- Unemployed graduate status
- The academic average required for your chosen position
- All the required supporting documents
- A completed academic-average Excel spreadsheet
- Availability for the full fixed-term programme
The listings do not set one age limit for everyone, and there is no single minimum average across the board. Always use the percentage and qualification rules for the exact reference number you choose.
Can You Apply With Matric Only?
No. Every listing requires Matric, but this programme is designed for graduates who have also completed tertiary studies. For example, Logistics needs a National Diploma or degree, and Legal needs an LLB or similar. If you only have Grade 12, these seven listings will not match your current qualifications.
What Academic Average Does Each Position Require?
The minimum percentage changes from position to position:
- Sales and Marketing: 70%
- Business Management: 70%
- Logistics: 60%
- Electrical Engineering: 65%
- Sales: 70%
- Occupational Health and Safety: 70%
- Legal: 60%
These numbers matter because you must prove your average in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. A transcript alone does not replace this compulsory document.
How to Prepare the Compulsory Excel Spreadsheet
This is where many applications fail, so take your time here. All seven listings ask you to calculate your cumulative academic average from your tertiary module results. Follow these steps:
- Collect your official transcripts for every completed tertiary qualification covered by the instructions.
- If you completed more than one qualification, such as a National Diploma plus an Advanced Diploma, check the instructions for including results from each one.
- Build a spreadsheet with three columns: qualification name, module name, and percentage achieved.
- Include all relevant modules. Do not cherry-pick only your best marks.
The calculation is a simple arithmetic average. Add up all your module percentages and divide the total by the number of modules. If your marks sit in cells C2 to C20, you can use this formula:
=AVERAGE(C2:C20)
Adjust the cell range to fit your own spreadsheet. Use ordinary numerical percentages throughout. If your transcript uses grades, credits or another system, clarify the method before you submit.
Check the recruitment portal for a downloadable template or extra formatting rules. If there is no template, follow the published instructions and save your file in a standard Microsoft Excel format.
Every one of the seven notices warns that submissions without this spreadsheet will not be considered. Attach it even if your academic record already shows an average.
What Documents Do You Need?
Prepare the following before you start your application:
- An updated CV limited to two pages
- A certified copy of your identity document
- A certified copy of your Matric qualification
- Certified copies of your completed tertiary qualifications
- Certified academic records
- Your completed Microsoft Excel academic-average spreadsheet
Make sure your CV matches the details on your certificates and academic records. Scan everything clearly, name the files properly, and check that no page is missing. The two-page CV limit and the Excel spreadsheet are both explicitly required, so treat them as non-negotiable.
How to Apply Step by Step
- Review the seven positions above and choose the one that matches your qualification and academic average.
- Note the differences between Sales, Sales and Marketing, and Business Management. They are separate listings with different education rules.
- Use the direct link under your chosen position and confirm the title and reference number match your intended role.
- Gather your certified documents and prepare your two-page CV.
- Complete the Excel spreadsheet before you begin the online submission.
- Register or sign in on the recruitment portal.
- Enter your personal details, education history and other requested information accurately.
- Attach your CV, certified documents and Excel spreadsheet.
- Double-check every attachment, then submit.
Six listings close on 13 October 2026. Sales and Marketing closes on 15 October 2026. Keep any confirmation or reference number the system gives you.
Mistakes That Could Get Your Application Rejected
After comparing all seven listings, these are the most common ways strong candidates disqualify themselves:
- Missing Excel workbook: every listing requires the academic-average calculation.
- Wrong academic threshold: some positions need 60%, others 65% or 70%.
- Wrong qualification: the Sales Graduate listing requires Chemical Engineering, not general Marketing.
- Incomplete legal eligibility: Legal graduates must meet Candidate Attorney registration conditions.
- CV over two pages: the notices clearly ask for two pages.
- Missing certified records: certified academic and qualification documents are needed from the start.
- Wrong closing date: Sales and Marketing closes two days after the other six listings.
The safest approach is simple. Check every requirement against the official listing before you press submit.
How Much Does the Programme Pay?
The recruitment pages describe the pay as market-related, but no fixed salary or stipend amount is published. Be careful with payment figures shared on social media, because they are often unverified.
Before accepting any placement, confirm the remuneration, payment schedule, contract period and benefits. If you live outside the Johannesburg East Rand, also ask whether transport or accommodation help is available.
What Experience Will You Gain?
This programme is designed to help you move from university life into a professional environment. The listings highlight four development elements:
- Structured development plans
- Practical on-the-job training
- Regular feedback from mentors
- Work-readiness training
If you have little work experience, this structure can help you build professional communication, task management and teamwork skills. The technical or commercial experience you gain will depend on your placement.
Be honest with yourself about this: the programme does not guarantee permanent employment after the fixed-term contract ends. Even so, the experience and references you build can strengthen every future application.
When Do Applications Close?
There are two deadlines across the seven listings:
- 13 October 2026: Business Management, Logistics, Electrical Engineering, Sales, Occupational Health and Safety, and Legal.
- 15 October 2026: Sales and Marketing.
These dates come from the official recruitment notices. Check the live portal to confirm your chosen listing is still open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply with Matric only?
No. All seven listings require Matric and a relevant completed tertiary qualification. The exact qualification depends on the position.
What average do I need?
The required average ranges from 60% to 70%. Logistics and Legal need 60%, Electrical Engineering needs 65%, and the other four fields need 70%.
Is the Excel spreadsheet really compulsory?
Yes. All seven listings require a spreadsheet showing your academic-average calculation, and the notices state that submissions without it will not be considered.
How long is the contract?
The position descriptions specify 12-month fixed-term contracts. Some structured listing fields show broader ranges, so confirm the final period with the recruitment team.
What is the closing date?
Six listings close on 13 October 2026. The Sales and Marketing listing closes on 15 October 2026.
The Bottom Line
The Rand Refinery Graduate Programme 2026 offers nine positions across seven listings on Johannesburg’s East Rand, covering Business Management, Logistics, Electrical Engineering, Sales, Occupational Health and Safety, Legal Services, and Sales and Marketing.
Your most important step is to match your qualification and academic average to the correct reference number before you prepare anything. Then gather your certified documents, build your two-page CV, and complete the compulsory Excel spreadsheet.
Closing dates: 13 October and 15 October 2026, depending on the position.
Competition will be tough, but a complete and accurate application already puts you ahead of many others. Use the direct official link under your preferred position, check its current status, and take that first step today.
About the Author
Itumeleng Ndlovu is the Founder and Managing Editor of SETA Careers, an independent South African platform publishing accurate information on learnerships, bursaries, internships and skills development programmes. She researches and verifies updates from government departments, SETAs, TVET colleges and accredited institutions so that students and job seekers can make informed decisions with confidence. Contact: [email protected]