PERSONAL ASSISTANT: CRIME PREVENTION CENTRE

This vacancy is for a Personal Assistant within the Crime Prevention Centre, part of the Police Oversight and Community Safety department in the Western Cape Government. The role provides high-level secretarial and administrative support to a manager, ensuring the smooth running of the centre’s office and enabling management to focus on core oversight and community safety functions. As a Personal Assistant, the incumbent will act as the first point of contact for the manager, handle correspondence, manage diaries and meetings, and support budget administration within a public sector environment.

To be considered, candidates must have Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification, plus an accredited secretarial diploma or administrative qualification at NQF level 5 or a relevant higher tertiary qualification. A minimum of three years’ experience in rendering secretarial or administrative support to management or senior management is required. The role demands a solid understanding of filing and diary systems, database administration, financial administration, the legislative framework governing the public service, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its procedures. Strong practical skills are equally important, including professional telephone etiquette, computer literacy, language proficiency, sound organisational ability, good people skills, and a high level of reliability. The successful person will also need excellent written communication, tact and discretion, information gathering and analysis skills, good grooming and presentation, self-management and motivation, typing ability for legal correspondence and documentation, and basic conceptual, interpretive and formulation skills.

The main duties include providing a secretarial and receptionist service to the manager, rendering administrative support, assisting the senior manager with meeting arrangements, supporting the manager with budget administration, and studying relevant Public Service and departmental prescripts, policies and other documents to ensure proper understanding and application. This means the Personal Assistant will be responsible for managing the manager’s schedule, screening calls and visitors, preparing documents and correspondence, coordinating meetings and taking minutes, monitoring expenditure, and keeping abreast of policy changes that affect the unit.

The selection process will be guided by the employment equity targets of the department. By applying, candidates consent to the Western Cape Government contacting previous employers for reference checks, including disciplinary records and reasons for leaving. Shortlisted candidates must be available for interviews and will be required to submit completed vetting and supporting documentation within a specified timeframe. The successful candidate will be subject to security vetting and must disclose financial interests. Given the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted within ten weeks of the closing date. This is an opportunity to contribute to public service in a dynamic oversight environment, supporting the work of the Crime Prevention Centre.