FOOD SERVICE AID (X4 POSTS)

The Department of Health in Limpopo is advertising four Food Service Aid positions, each based at a different hospital within the province: Letaba Hospital, Pietersburg Hospital, St Ritas Hospital, and Maphutha Malatji Hospital. This is an OSD-graded entry-level role within the institutional food services environment, reporting into the Food Service Unit of the relevant hospital. The role is central to the daily operation of hospital catering, ensuring that patients receive nutritious, correctly prepared meals in line with strict safety and hygiene protocols. The successful candidates will work as part of a team responsible for the entire food flow, from receiving supplies and pre-preparing ingredients, through to cooking, portioning, serving, and delivering meals to wards, as well as cleaning the kitchen and equipment afterwards.

Applicants must hold a National Senior Certificate or Grade 12 or Matric, together with a Certificate or National Vocational Certificate in Hospitality Management from a TVET college or an equivalent qualification. In addition to formal qualifications, candidates need appropriate competencies in a food service unit, including the physical capability to lift and move heavy equipment and supplies, and the stamina to remain on their feet for up to 12 hours per day. The role is shift-based, so availability to work during the day, on weekends, and on public holidays is essential. Required knowledge and skills include the ability to prepare meals according to standardised recipes and menus, safe handling of industrial kitchen equipment, and a working understanding of food service hygiene and safety principles. Candidates should also possess basic knowledge of supplies, equipment and services ordering and inventory control, as well as the ability to follow routine verbal and written instructions, read and write, understand and follow safety procedures, and safely use cleaning equipment and supplies. Additional expectations include conflict management skills, the ability to lead and train students, and knowledge of food service line set-up and temperature requirements, along with skill in cooking and preparing a variety of foods.

The duties of the Food Service Aid are varied and demanding. Core responsibilities include performing all tasks related to the preparation and serving of food, maintaining safety and hygiene standards at all times, and assisting with the receiving and safe storage of food and other products. The role also involves assisting with the informal in-service training of new employees, cleaning and purifying the kitchen, canteen and equipment, and delivering and collecting food warmers and trolleys from wards according to patient numbers. A key part of the role is complying with Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles in all food handling and preparation activities to ensure food safety. Daily activities must align with HACCP requirements. The post involves pre-preparation and cooking of food for both normal and therapeutic diets as per standardised recipes, portioning and serving food through plating or bulk serving, and packing meal delivery carts according to ward diet lists. The aid pushes meal delivery carts to wards, delivers food as per the ward list, and collects the carts after each meal service. Other duties include blending food for soft or liquid diets, assisting in packing food into storerooms, packaging and labelling therapeutic diets, placing eating utensils and condiments on trays, apportioning and placing food servings on plates and trays, examining filled trays for completeness and placing them on carts or conveyors, washing dishes, cleaning work areas, and emptying waste bins regularly. Cleaning and maintaining work areas, including floors, pots, pans, service ware, utensils and equipment, is a continuous responsibility, as is handling the dishwasher and cleaning equipment and utensils before and after use. The aid must supply clean cutlery and crockery during mealtimes, report any faults, breakages or illness in the Food Service Unit, and clean the unit and food trolleys according to the cleaning schedule after every meal preparation and serving. Miscellaneous job-related duties may also be assigned.

Applicants should note that the Department of Health requires strict compliance with application conditions; failure to do so will result in disqualification. Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates, and all applications must be submitted online via the provincial e-recruitment portal, accompanied by a fully completed, signed new Z83 form and a comprehensive CV. The Z83 form must be completed in full, with specific fields in Part B handled according to the notes provided, and applicants may refer to their CV for limited space in Parts E, F and G. These posts are subject to the Department’s employment equity targets, and the department encourages suitably qualified candidates to apply. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals with a hospitality qualification who are dedicated to patient care and food safety to contribute meaningfully within a public healthcare setting.