With The Help Of XChange, I Found My Internship, Now I Have A Job As Well

Finding an internship in South Africa can be a life-changing opportunity for students and graduates who want to gain real-world experience, especially in Cape Town. Many international students arrive in South Africa not knowing where to start, but with the right guidance, an internship can open the door to academic growth, work experience, and even full-time employment.

At XChange South Africa, we specialise in helping students and graduates secure valuable internships in Cape Town across multiple fields, from environmental management and business to engineering, social sciences, and more. An internship is not only about gaining skills—it’s about building connections, improving your career prospects, and growing personally in a new environment.

This story by Neddy Ndeba is a powerful example of how an internship in Cape Town can change lives. Starting as an international student with no English, Neddy went on to complete a master’s degree Cum Laude and secure a permanent job through the support of an XChange South Africa internship programme.

Originally written by Neddy Ndeba

"I never thought I would get this far. I arrived in South Africa with no English. I learnt the language from scratch. Not knowing what I was getting myself into I enrolled to study Environmental Management at CPUT in 2013. My first year was hell!!! Not only I had to deal with the language barrier, the different accents from the various lectures I had made it so difficult for me to understand in class. I had a headache every day after class. TO BE HONEST I ALMOST QUIT.

With consistent effort I made it to second, third and fourth year. After completing my Bachelor of technology in 2016, again not knowing what I was getting myself into I applied for a master’s degree. As many graduates in South Africa, I didn’t not have work experience. I was desperately looking for an internship to gain some practical experience.

After desperately searching for job post online, I happened to browse through XChange SA. I contacted Karin Corner and explained my situation to her. She was very warm over the phone and she understood where was coming from. She successfully managed to secure me an internship in a company where I’m currently employed today. I will never thank her enough.

When applying for master’s degree I knew it was not going to be easy. I was well aware that I had to go through sleepless night. I had to make sacrifices to finish. On the 25 December 2018 while everyone was partying. I was in the Lab working. On the 1st January 2019 while everyone was in the holiday mood. Where was I? I was in the lab working. My Supervisor Prof. Ntwampe pushed me to the limit and told me one thing I’ll never forget. He said, "We are the soldiers of Academia". Indeed, I was working like a soldier.

After so much pain I finally graduated in December 2019. I completed my master’s degree Cum Laude in record time. I share my story to inspire you and to thank all those that have supported me through the journey."