Hollard IT Learnership Programme 2026: Technology Skills Development for Young South Africans in Parktown

Twelve seats. Twelve months. One of South Africa's largest privately owned insurers. That is the entire size of the Hollard IT Learnership Programme 2026, and it explains why so many young people took notice. It offered a way into a technology career without paying university fees.

Hollard advertised the learnership under reference number HOL260911-1. Successful learners would be based in Parktown, Gauteng, working alongside technology teams while building towards a nationally recognised qualification.

Before you read further, here is the honest status update. The advertised closing date was 18 September 2026, and that date has now passed. We found no announcement of an extension at the time of writing. So use this guide in two ways: to double check the official portal in case anything changes, and to prepare a stronger application for the next intake or for similar IT learnerships. Everything below follows the published vacancy details. Where the advert says nothing, we tell you so plainly instead of guessing.

Programme Snapshot at a Glance

• Programme name: IT Learnership Programme 2026
• Employer: Hollard
• Reference number: HOL260911-1
• Number of positions: 12 IT learners
• Duration: 12 months
• Location: Parktown, Gauteng
• Minimum education: Matric (Grade 12)
• Age range: 18 to 26 years
• Closing date: 18 September 2026 (now passed)
• Stipend: not disclosed in the advert

Meet the Employer: Who Is Hollard?

Hollard describes itself as South Africa's largest independent, privately owned insurance group. It was launched in 1980 and offers short term and life insurance along with investment products to individuals, businesses and corporate clients. Partnership sits at the centre of its model, with the group working alongside retailers, financial institutions and other specialist businesses to design and deliver insurance products.

A few facts worth knowing before you apply:

• Founded in 1980 and headquartered on a campus in Parktown, Johannesburg, which includes the historic Villa Arcadia
• Operates under two insurance licences in South Africa, covering short term and life insurance
• Reports more than 10 million policyholders and operations across four continents, according to Hollard group material
• Describes its workplace culture as the Hollard Way, which balances delivering results with the freedom to experiment and pioneer

Why does this matter for an IT learner? Insurers depend on technology for policies, claims, data and customer service. Working inside one shows you how technology supports a real business every single day.

Eligibility: Who Could Apply

Based on the published requirements, an applicant needed to meet every one of these points:

• South African citizen
• Aged between 18 and 26 years
• Completed Grade 12 (Matric)
• English at 60% or higher, plus a pass in another South African language
• Mathematics at 60% or higher
• Computer Applications Technology (CAT) or Physical Science at 50% or higher

Notice what is missing from that list. No university degree or diploma was required. The programme targets school leavers with strong results in specific subjects, so the subject marks are the real filter. Check your Matric certificate against each percentage before you do anything else.

One detail deserves care. The advert names Mathematics, so if you wrote Mathematical Literacy, confirm on the official portal whether it is accepted instead of assuming. Also note that the advert does not state that applicants must be unemployed, so do not describe it that way to others.

Skills and Personal Qualities Hollard Listed

The vacancy went beyond marks. It listed the following abilities and attitudes:

• Basic computer literacy and experience with Microsoft Office
• A genuine interest in technology, innovation and digital solutions
• Curiosity, willingness to learn and adaptability
• Strong communication, problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Professionalism, integrity and accountability

If you can show real examples of these traits on your CV, you already stand apart from applicants who only list them.

What Learners Would Do During the 12 Months

The learnership combines structured learning with practical exposure inside Hollard's technology environment. According to the advert, learners would:

• Gain exposure to IT infrastructure and digital business operations
• Learn how technology supports business processes
• Work with technology teams, mentors and colleagues
• Learn about systems, applications, data and digital tools
• Take part in structured learning activities and workplace projects
• Develop technical, analytical and professional workplace skills

This mix matters. Theory alone rarely teaches you how a support request travels through a team, or why a system outage becomes a business problem within minutes. A workplace placement does.

Stipend: What the Advert Says and What It Does Not Say

This is the section where many websites invent numbers, so let us be direct. The Hollard vacancy does not state a salary or stipend amount. We will not quote a figure, because any specific amount would be a guess.

Here is what you can do instead:

• Read the full vacancy on the official portal for any wording about remuneration
• Ask about the learner allowance and terms during the interview stage if you are shortlisted, since learnership agreements normally set these out
• Treat any website that promises an exact monthly amount without citing Hollard as unreliable

Qualification Details: What You Would Study Towards

The advert says learners work towards a nationally recognised qualification. It does not name the exact qualification title, the NQF level or the training provider. In South Africa, learnerships generally link a registered qualification with workplace experience, and the learner, the employer and a training provider usually sign a learnership agreement.

Before accepting any offer, confirm the specific qualification, the training provider and the assessment arrangements directly with Hollard through the recruitment process. Those details protect you and help you plan your next steps after the 12 months.

Documents to Prepare Before You Apply

The advert asks applicants to upload a CV and any supporting documents through the portal, and your Matric results sit at the centre of screening. Prepare clear, readable scans or PDFs of the following:

• An updated CV with contact details, education and any IT exposure
• Your Matric certificate or Grade 12 results showing English, Mathematics and CAT or Physical Science marks
• A copy of your South African ID, since citizenship and age are requirements (the portal may or may not request it, so confirm when you apply)
• Any other document the portal asks for during the application

Upload documents only through the official portal. Never send ID copies to social media accounts or private messaging numbers.

Benefits and Career Scope

The advert points to these benefits:

• Twelve months of practical experience inside a large insurer's technology environment
• Progress towards a nationally recognised qualification
• Mentorship from experienced professionals
• Exposure to systems, data and modern workplace tools
• A route into the IT industry without a university degree

On career scope, be realistic. Hollard does not promise permanent employment after the learnership, and the advert does not say so. Still, practical ICT experience can support entry towards roles that job platforms commonly link with this kind of pathway, such as IT support technician, systems administrator, network technician, data analyst, business analyst or junior developer. Treat these as possible directions, not guarantees.

How the Application Worked, Step by Step

Applications went through Hollard's eRecruit portal. The process looked like this:

1. Open the official Hollard vacancy page and confirm the title reads IT Learnership Programme 2026
2. Confirm the reference number HOL260911-1 and the location Parktown, Gauteng
3. Read the complete programme information
4. Sign in to your recruitment profile or create a new one
5. Enter your personal and contact details accurately
6. Enter your Grade 12 subjects and results correctly
7. Upload your CV and any requested documents
8. Answer the eligibility and screening questions honestly
9. Review everything, then submit before the closing date

The exact closing time was not stated. Since the date has passed, open the portal and check whether the vacancy is still listed. If it is marked closed or removed, use the tips below to prepare for the next opportunity.

Official Contact and Where to Verify

• Official application portal: Hollard eRecruit at hollard.erecruit.co
• Official company website: hollard.co.za
• Office location: Hollard head office campus, Parktown, Johannesburg

The vacancy does not publish a recruitment phone number or email address, so we are not listing one. Use the official portal for every step. Applying is free, and no one can sell you a place.

Expert Tips to Strengthen Your Next Application

• Verify your marks first. Meeting English 60%, Mathematics 60% and CAT or Physical Science 50% is non negotiable
• Write a short personal statement explaining why you want a career in technology and what you have already done to explore it
• Show technology in action. School CAT practicals, fixing a family laptop, building a spreadsheet or finishing a free online course all count as evidence
• Keep a digital folder with your ID, Matric certificate and CV so you can apply within minutes
• Check Hollard's careers portal regularly instead of relying on social media rumours
• Apply early, because the advert did not state a closing time and portals can be slow near deadlines
• Prepare for screening questions such as why IT, why an insurer and how you handle new challenges
• Read every field carefully, because a wrong mark or a missing upload can end an application quietly

Related Opportunities Worth Exploring

• Hollard Unemployed Learnership 2026 on the Hollard eRecruit portal, which lists Parktown, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria as locations (check whether it is still open)
• Hollard Graduate Programme in Information Technology and Data Science, a 12 month programme in Parktown aimed at graduates (the last cycle we found was 2025 and 2026)
• IT and business learnerships at other insurers, banks and public entities
• ICT and computer programmes at TVET colleges
• Metropolitan Human Capital Learnership Programme 2026, listed by opportunity websites as a 12 month option for unemployed Matric applicants (confirm the current status yourself)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Hollard IT Learnership Programme 2026 still open? The advertised closing date was 18 September 2026, which has passed. Check the official portal for any change.

How many places were available? The advert lists 12 IT learner positions.

Where is the learnership based? It is based in Parktown, Gauteng.

Do I need a degree or diploma? No. Matric with the required subject marks is the minimum education level.

What marks do I need? English 60% plus a pass in another South African language, Mathematics 60%, and CAT or Physical Science 50%.

What is the age limit? Applicants must be between 18 and 26 years old.

How much is the stipend? The advert does not disclose it. Do not trust any exact figure that does not come from Hollard.

Should I pay anyone to secure a place? Never. Legitimate recruitment does not charge fees, and no one can guarantee selection.

Disclaimer

This article is for information only and is based on publicly available vacancy details at the time of writing. We are not Hollard and we do not recruit on its behalf. Closing dates, requirements, stipend details and availability can change without notice, and the advertised closing date has already passed. Always confirm the latest information on Hollard's official recruitment portal before you act. Never pay money or share banking details, passwords or one time PINs with anyone claiming to offer a learnership placement.

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