TRADESMAN AID BUILDING (CARPENTRY)

This position is for a Tradesman Aid Building (Carpentry) within the Western Cape Government’s Department of Education, specifically in the Engineering and Technical Support Services component. Based at the Head Office in Cape Town, the successful candidate will support a team of artisans in maintaining and repairing education infrastructure, including hospital buildings and other facilities across the Western Cape. The role is central to ensuring that these buildings remain safe, functional, and compliant with relevant building regulations and occupational health standards.

Applicants must have at least a Grade 10 certificate or equivalent, coupled with appropriate basic workshop experience and hands-on experience in the building trades. A sound knowledge of carpentry, plumbing, painting, and building work is essential, as is familiarity with the SANS 10-400 Building Regulation and the requirements of the Machinery and Occupational Health and Safety Act. The role demands someone who is physically fit for manual labour, comfortable handling tools, and willing to travel throughout the Western Cape Province. Good interpersonal and communication skills are also required, as the appointee will regularly interact with artisans, foremen, and other staff across various sites.

The duties are broad and practical. The Tradesman Aid will carry out minor maintenance tasks, assist with the installation of plant, equipment, and alterations, and help artisans in executing their daily responsibilities. This includes painting, glazing, skimming, installing drywalls and ceilings, and spray-painting equipment at hospital buildings. The role also involves repairing and servicing infrastructure equipment at facilities to maintain standards and regulatory compliance. The appointee will be responsible for ensuring that tools and materials are available when needed, maintaining control over them, and keeping the workshop and working environment clean and free of obstructions each day. Taking control of assigned job cards, assisting the Artisan Foreman with delegated duties, and providing occasional support across the carpentry, plumbing, painting, and building departments are all part of the workflow. Emergency breakdowns, including after-hours repairs, may also be required, along with planning and décor work for new installations and alterations.

This is a hands-on, physically demanding role suited to someone with practical building trade experience who enjoys varied work across multiple sites. The position is subject to the normal conditions of public service employment in the Western Cape, and no payment of any kind is required when applying. The advertised post offers an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the upkeep of public education and health infrastructure while gaining further experience within a supportive technical services team.