KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport invites interested and suitably qualified candidates to apply for Tradesman Aid positions available at Inkosi Mhlabunzima Maphumulo House in Pietermaritzburg and within the Empangeni Region across Vryheid and Pongola operational teams. The positions involve assisting with maintenance of facilities, grounds, vehicles and equipment, including cleaning, servicing and safe keeping of tools in accordance with departmental standards.

The positions are suitable for applicants with a Grade 10 or Junior Certificate and at least six months of trade-related experience, together with the ability to use electrical and hand tools and work independently within maintenance support environments. Responsibilities include supporting signage teams, depot maintenance units, ground survey teams and mechanical workshops while contributing to operational readiness of transport infrastructure services.

Position Title: Tradesman Aid
Number of Posts: 7
Salary: R163 680 per annum (Level 03)
Closing Date: 06 May 2026 at 16:00

Overview of the Tradesman Aid Position

The Tradesman Aid position supports maintenance teams responsible for infrastructure upkeep, equipment servicing and operational readiness within transport service environments across regional depots and specialised support units. The role contributes to daily maintenance activities involving facilities, grounds, tools and vehicles through assistance with cleaning, servicing, safeguarding and repair preparation aligned with departmental maintenance standards governing operational equipment and transport-related infrastructure support systems.

The position forms part of structured maintenance operations responsible for ensuring that departmental vehicles, signage infrastructure, survey equipment and mechanical support tools remain functional, safe and available for service delivery programmes supporting provincial road infrastructure operations. Responsibilities include assisting technical teams across specialised support services, depot maintenance units and mechanical environments through coordinated use of electrical and hand tools under supervision of qualified personnel within structured maintenance workflows.

Purpose of the Tradesman Aid Role

Primary objectives associated with the Tradesman Aid position include:

• Supporting maintenance of departmental facilities
• Assisting upkeep of operational grounds
• Supporting servicing of vehicles and equipment
• Assisting repair preparation activities
• Supporting cleaning of maintenance tools
• Maintaining safe storage of equipment
• Supporting maintenance of signage infrastructure
• Supporting mechanical workshop assistance activities
• Supporting ground survey equipment readiness
• Supporting depot operational maintenance activities

The role contributes to continuity of infrastructure maintenance activities across regional transport operational environments.

Centres, Reference Numbers and Number of Posts

• Inkosi Mhlabunzima Maphumulo House, Pietermaritzburg
  Road Traffic Inspectorate – Specialised Support Services
  • Reference Number: DOT 125/2026
  • Number of Posts: 1
• Empangeni Region – Vryheid Depot Team
  • Reference Number: DOT 126/2026
  • Number of Posts: 1
• Empangeni Region – Signs Team (Vryheid)
  • Reference Number: DOT 127/2026
  • Number of Posts: 1
• Empangeni Region – Ground Survey (Vryheid)
  • Reference Number: DOT 128/2026
  • Number of Posts: 1
• Empangeni Region – Mechanical (Pongola)
  • Reference Number: DOT 129/2026
  • Number of Posts: 3

Facility Maintenance Support Responsibilities

Facility maintenance duties include:

• Supporting upkeep of departmental buildings
• Assisting cleaning of maintenance workspaces
• Supporting preparation of work areas for technical teams
• Assisting with storage organisation of maintenance equipment
• Supporting upkeep of infrastructure maintenance environments
• Maintaining safety standards within operational work areas

Facility maintenance assistance supports safe working environments for technical staff.

Grounds Maintenance Support Responsibilities

Ground maintenance responsibilities include:

• Assisting upkeep of departmental grounds
• Supporting vegetation control within operational sites
• Supporting cleaning of outdoor maintenance areas
• Assisting preparation of workspaces for survey teams
• Supporting safe access within operational depot environments

Ground maintenance assistance supports operational readiness of transport infrastructure support sites.

Equipment Maintenance Support Responsibilities

Equipment-related duties include:

• Assisting servicing of maintenance tools
• Supporting cleaning of hand tools
• Supporting cleaning of electrical tools
• Supporting preparation of tools for maintenance operations
• Assisting storage of operational equipment according to standards
• Supporting safeguarding of maintenance resources

Equipment maintenance assistance strengthens tool readiness across maintenance teams.

Vehicle Maintenance Support Responsibilities

Vehicle-related responsibilities include:

• Assisting cleaning of departmental vehicles
• Supporting servicing preparation activities
• Supporting safe storage of maintenance vehicles
• Assisting maintenance teams with vehicle readiness procedures
• Supporting compliance with vehicle maintenance standards

Vehicle maintenance assistance supports operational mobility across regional maintenance teams.

Signage Maintenance Support Responsibilities

Signage support duties include:

• Assisting maintenance of road signage infrastructure
• Supporting preparation of signage materials
• Supporting storage of signage equipment
• Assisting handling of signage maintenance tools
• Supporting safe transport of signage resources

Signage maintenance support contributes to road safety infrastructure readiness.

Ground Survey Support Responsibilities

Survey-related duties include:

• Supporting preparation of ground survey equipment
• Assisting handling of survey tools
• Supporting cleaning of survey instruments
• Supporting safe storage of survey resources
• Assisting readiness of survey teams during operational deployment

Survey support strengthens planning activities related to transport infrastructure development.

Mechanical Workshop Support Responsibilities

Mechanical support duties include:

• Assisting preparation of mechanical tools
• Supporting servicing readiness of workshop equipment
• Supporting cleaning of mechanical equipment
• Supporting storage of workshop resources
• Assisting maintenance teams during mechanical servicing activities

Mechanical workshop assistance supports vehicle and equipment maintenance programmes.

Tool Handling Responsibilities

Tool-related duties include:

• Using electrical tools under supervision
• Using hand tools during maintenance preparation tasks
• Supporting cleaning of tools after operational use
• Supporting storage of tools according to safety standards
• Maintaining readiness of tools for technical teams

Tool handling responsibilities support efficiency of maintenance operations.

Safe Keeping of Equipment Responsibilities

Equipment safeguarding duties include:

• Ensuring safe storage of maintenance equipment
• Supporting tracking of tool usage
• Supporting organisation of maintenance inventories
• Assisting prevention of equipment loss or damage
• Supporting compliance with departmental safety procedures

Equipment safeguarding responsibilities strengthen accountability within maintenance units.

Cleaning Responsibilities

Cleaning-related duties include:

• Cleaning maintenance equipment
• Cleaning workspaces within depot environments
• Supporting cleaning of signage tools
• Supporting cleaning of mechanical workshop areas
• Maintaining hygiene standards within maintenance environments

Cleaning duties support safe and efficient operational working conditions.

Servicing Assistance Responsibilities

Servicing-related duties include:

• Assisting preparation for equipment servicing
• Supporting maintenance teams during servicing activities
• Supporting readiness of maintenance materials
• Supporting cleaning prior to servicing procedures
• Supporting maintenance workflow coordination activities

Servicing assistance supports maintenance programme continuity.

Organisational Support Responsibilities

Operational coordination duties include:

• Supporting maintenance workflow preparation
• Supporting coordination of equipment readiness
• Assisting maintenance teams with task preparation
• Supporting operational readiness across maintenance depots
• Supporting scheduling preparation activities

Organisational support strengthens coordination of technical maintenance teams.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must possess:

• Grade 10 or Junior Certificate

Educational readiness supports participation in maintenance assistance environments.

Experience Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Minimum of six months trade-related experience

Trade-related exposure supports readiness for maintenance assistance duties within technical operational environments.

Technical Skills Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Ability to use electrical tools
• Ability to use hand tools
• Ability to support maintenance preparation activities
• Ability to maintain equipment safely
• Ability to support servicing workflows

Technical readiness supports safe participation within maintenance operations.

Communication Skills Requirements

Communication competencies include:

• Good verbal communication skills
• Good interpersonal communication ability
• Ability to coordinate with technical teams
• Ability to support operational workflow communication

Communication skills support teamwork within maintenance environments.

Organisational Skills Requirements

Organisational competencies include:

• Ability to maintain tool storage systems
• Ability to support maintenance workflow preparation
• Ability to coordinate equipment readiness
• Ability to maintain documentation accuracy where required

Organisational skills support efficiency within maintenance support teams.

Independent Work Capability Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Ability to work independently when assigned maintenance support tasks
• Ability to follow technical instructions
• Ability to complete assigned duties within operational timeframes
• Ability to maintain safety standards without direct supervision

Independent work capability strengthens reliability within depot environments.

Application Submission Methods

Applications may be submitted through:

• Online application: www.kznonline.gov.za/kznjobs
• Hand delivery: Inkosi Mhlabunzima Maphumulo House, 172 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg
• Postal submission: Recruitment and Selection Section, Human Resource Administration Directorate, Private Bag X9043, Pietermaritzburg, 3200

Applications must be submitted using the new Z83 Application for Employment Form accompanied by a detailed Curriculum Vitae.

Separate applications must be submitted for each post applied for where multiple reference numbers are selected.

Selection Process Information

Only shortlisted candidates will be requested to submit certified copies of qualifications and supporting documentation before interview dates. Personnel suitability checks including criminal record verification, citizenship verification, credit checks, qualification verification and employment verification will be conducted prior to appointment.

Applicants who do not receive communication within three months after the closing date should consider applications unsuccessful. The department reserves the right not to fill advertised posts and encourages persons with disabilities and designated groups to apply in line with employment equity objectives governing public service recruitment processes.