IT Systems Support Learnership for Persons with Disabilities – Johannesburg & Pretoria (2026)

South Africa’s tech sector keeps growing, but inclusive pathways into that growth for persons with disabilities remain rare. This fully funded IT Systems Support Learnership is changing that. Learning4Life has partnered with Faranani IT Services and the National Skills Fund (NSF) — an entity of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) — to offer unemployed South African youth living with disabilities a structured route into the IT industry, combining formal academic instruction with real workplace experience across Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Opening Doors to the Digital Economy

Persons with disabilities have historically faced heightened barriers to entry-level employment, particularly in specialised technical fields. This learnership is designed to lower those barriers. Participants receive a monthly stipend from day one, so they can focus fully on upskilling without financial strain.

Beyond the stipend, the programme provides comprehensive assistive support, reasonable accommodation tailored to individual needs, protective equipment, toolkits, and structured mentoring — a holistic support structure that prepares learners not just to complete their qualification, but to build long-term careers in IT.

Programme Structure and Qualifications

The learnership centres on the National Certificate: Information Technology – Systems Support, registered under SAQA ID 48573 at NQF Level 5 and accredited by the MICT SETA.

• Theoretical Grounding: Computer architecture, operating systems, hardware configuration, network protocols, and troubleshooting methodologies
• Practical Workplace Experience: Live operational environments across Gauteng workplace sites, applying theory to real infrastructure challenges
• Skill Application: Diagnosing hardware faults, configuring basic networks, maintaining IT system health, and providing end-user desktop support

Core Eligibility Criteria

The recruitment process targets 50 unemployed South Africans with a strong passion for technology. To qualify, applicants must meet the following:

• Citizenship & Status: South African citizen, currently unemployed, and living with a disability
• Educational Background: Grade 12 (National Senior Certificate) or an equivalent recognised qualification
• Core Competencies: Basic computer literacy and effective communication skills
• Location: Ability to attend daily training sessions in Johannesburg or Pretoria

In alignment with national transformation goals, preferential consideration is extended to female applicants and candidates from rural areas.

Why Systems Support Matters for Entry-Level Careers

Systems support technicians form the backbone of modern enterprise IT departments — maintaining network stability, configuring workplace devices, troubleshooting technical issues, and safeguarding data integrity. Earning an NQF Level 5 National Certificate opens direct pathways to roles such as:

• IT Support Technician / Helpdesk Specialist
• Desktop Support Engineer
• Junior Network Administrator
• Field Systems Technician

Structured mentorship and coaching run throughout the learnership, helping participants build critical soft skills — problem-solving under pressure, customer service, and collaborative communication — alongside their technical training.

How to Apply

Eligible candidates interested in securing one of the 50 available places can contact Learning4Life directly via email at [email protected], or visit their official website to submit application details.

Apply Now →

About Faranani IT Services

Faranani IT Services was founded in 2004 and is a Black Economic Empowered (BEE) IT services provider that is 67% black owned. The company employs IT professionals across the spectrum, with about 70% coming from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. “Faranani” is a Venda word meaning “working together” — a philosophy reflected in the company’s national reach and workforce of 500 to 999 employees. Faranani’s management team previously worked at a major multinational ICT company, gaining deep experience in systems integration and IT outsourcing across the public sector, manufacturing, automotive, and financial services industries. That background now shapes programmes like this learnership, giving participants exposure to enterprise-grade IT environments from day one.

Investing in inclusive IT education builds a diverse talent pool that drives both corporate success and socio-economic transformation across Gauteng.