Senwes Graduate Programme

Written by Thabo MokoenaSenior Education Editor

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Senwes is a grain and agricultural services group with its head office in Klerksdorp, North West. It buys and stores grain, sells farm inputs and equipment, and lends to farmers through Agri Credit Solutions. Every year it takes on a group of new graduates for a 12-month Graduate Programme, one of four early-career routes listed on the Senwes careers site alongside learnerships, three-year apprenticeships and 12-month accelerated learnerships.

Twelve months inside an agribusiness

Senwes describes the programme as a way for graduates to fast-track their careers in their chosen field. According to the Early Careers page, the year includes:

• an in-depth 12-month development programme with a set structure;
• real professional responsibilities and work on live projects;
• coaching, mentoring and skills transfer to bridge university and the workplace;
• access to experienced staff and guidance in building industry knowledge.

The page names marketing, finance and operations as examples of where graduates can work. The wider careers portal says the group employs people in finance, information technology, law, engineering, administration, marketing, agronomy and technical operations. Senwes also says that many employees who joined as young graduates now hold senior positions in the group.

Dates Senwes has published

The Early Careers page says only that applications “open on 31 July”, with no year. The last intake with a published date is the 2025 programme: the careers home page still lists it with a closing date of 31 July 2024. The online application form linked from both pages now shows the message that it is currently unavailable, and Senwes has not posted details or dates for a 2027 intake. The careers pages do not state a stipend or salary, minimum marks, qualifying degrees, where graduates are placed, or whether the year leads to a permanent post.

Graduates who want to be considered in the meantime can register a profile on the Senwes Group Careers portal and upload a CV to its database. The careers page invites CVs by email to listrecruitment@senwes.co.za. General enquiries go to info@senwes.co.za or +27 18 464 7800. The programme description and any new intake will appear on the Senwes Early Careers page.

The other Senwes entry routes

Candidates without a degree have other ways in. Senwes learnerships run with approved training providers and lead to a SAQA-registered qualification, with a learner allowance paid for the duration; their length depends on the qualification. The apprenticeship programme usually takes three years and pairs each apprentice with a qualified mentor in a technical field. The accelerated learnership is a shorter, intensive 12-month programme aimed at future managers. Senwes has not published intake dates for any of these either.

Students still at university who want agricultural funding can look at the AgriSETA bursary, the TWK Agri bursary, and the Department of Agriculture bursary.

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