ARTISAN PRODUCTION: PLUMBER

This vacancy is for an Artisan Production: Plumber within the Maintenance directorate, based at the Dr George Mukhari Facility Maintenance Hub. The role operates within the Department of Community Safety, where the maintenance unit is responsible for ensuring that physical facilities, equipment, and infrastructure remain functional, safe, and compliant with national standards. As the plumber in this production environment, you will not only respond to breakdowns but also contribute to the full lifecycle of technical objects and systems — from initial design and production through to installation, inspection, servicing, and quality assurance. This is a hands-on technical post that combines trade craftsmanship with administrative and supervisory responsibilities, making it suitable for a qualified artisan who can work independently and as part of a team.

Candidates must hold an appropriate Trade Test Certificate and have between zero and two years of relevant experience, with the final salary offer determined by recognised experience gained after the trade test. A valid driver’s licence is required. The role demands a solid understanding of Public Service legislation, policies, and regulations, as well as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, departmental strategies and procedures, and legal compliance requirements. Familiarity with computer-aided technical applications and production processes is essential. In terms of softer skills, the successful applicant will need technical report writing ability, strong problem-solving and analytical thinking, sound decision-making, planning and organising skills, effective communication, and the capacity to work creatively within a team. Personal attributes such as reliability, customer focus, and being a team player are also key.

The core duties are broad and cover the full spectrum of plumbing-related production and maintenance. You will be expected to produce designs according to client specifications and within production capability, then manufacture objects using appropriate materials and equipment in line with job specifications and recognised standards. Quality assurance is a recurring theme: you must check produced items, inspect equipment and facilities for technical faults, repair them according to standards, and test everything against specifications. Routine servicing must follow set schedules, and you are responsible for assuring the quality of serviced and maintained systems. Administrative duties include compiling and submitting reports, providing inputs to the operational plan, and keeping an accurate job record or register. The post also carries supervisory elements, so you may be required to oversee and mentor junior staff. A commitment to continuous professional development is expected, including staying up to date with new technologies and procedures in the plumbing and maintenance field.

Several conditions and expectations apply. Shortlisted applicants will need to undergo pre-entry assessments, including a practical exercise and an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment, with results used as an additional criterion during interviews. A personnel suitability check will also be conducted, covering vetting, criminal record, citizenship, credit record, qualification verification, and employment verification. Foreign qualifications must be accompanied by a SAQA evaluation certificate. Applications are subject to the department’s recruitment processes, and the department reserves the right not to appoint. The department actively encourages youth, people with disability, and candidates from Coloured, Indian, and white population groups to apply, and persons with disabilities must attach a confirmation certificate from a registered medical practitioner. Candidates will be placed according to corridor coordination and departmental needs. The application process uses the prescribed Z83 form and a comprehensive CV, with certified copies only required for shortlisted candidates. Correspondence is limited to shortlisted candidates, and those not contacted within three months after the closing date should regard their application as unsuccessful.