South Africans who need a public‑service job should act now – the SETA SA has just posted the latest batch of vacancies from DPSA Public Service Vacancy Circular 35 of 2026.
What is Circular 35?
This circular lists jobs from national departments and provincial administrations. Positions range from entry‑level clerical and support roles to artisan, health, social‑development and technical jobs.
It welcomes applicants with Grade 10, Grade 12/Matric, NQF Level 4, TVET, trade, diploma or degree qualifications.
Who can apply?
All of the following may be eligible, depending on the specific vacancy:
- Grade 10 or equivalent
- Grade 12 / Senior Certificate
- NQF Level 4 (N4, N5, N6) or other TVET qualifications
- Trade certificates
- Diplomas and university degrees
Read each vacancy carefully – some jobs also require a driver’s licence, specific experience, or physical fitness.
What you can gain
Government jobs provide steady income, pension benefits and the chance to develop public‑service skills such as administration, customer service, health care, and technical trades.
Many entry‑level roles also offer opportunities for career progression within the public sector.
How to apply – step by step
- Visit the SETA SA Entry‑Level Jobs platform to view the 61 extracted vacancies.
- Select a vacancy that matches your qualification.
- Read the full advertisement on the official DPSA page: DPSA Circular 35 of 2026.
- Note the reference number, centre, salary, required documents, and closing date.
- Complete the prescribed Z83 form with all required details.
- Send the completed form and supporting documents to the department listed in the vacancy – not to SETA SA.
- Make sure your application arrives before the closing date.
Tips to improve your chances
- Tailor each application to the exact qualification and experience asked for.
- Include a clean, up‑to‑date CV and a correctly filled Z83 form.
- Double‑check that you have signed the form and quoted the correct vacancy reference.
- If a job asks for a driver’s licence, ensure it is current and matches the code required.
- Gather any required certificates (Matric, trade, NQF) before you start.
- Apply only to positions you truly qualify for – sending generic applications wastes time.
Grade 10 jobs in Circular 35
Not every vacancy needs Matric. Examples that accept Grade 10 or equivalent include:
Driver/Messenger – Department of Agriculture (Pretoria)
Requires Grade 10/ABET, a valid Code 8 driver’s licence and relevant experience.
Tradesman Aid – Building (Carpentry) (Cape Town)
Minimum education: Grade 10 or equivalent plus practical experience.
Artisan Assistant – George Regional Hospital
Grade 10 or equivalent plus experience in building maintenance, minor repairs or assisting artisans.
Remember, Grade 10 alone does not guarantee selection – meet all listed requirements.
Grade 12 jobs – clerical and administrative
Many posts require only Matric or an NQF Level 4 qualification. Examples:
- Registry Clerk (2 posts) – Department of Employment and Labour, Limpopo – no experience needed.
- Administrative Clerk: Support Services IES – Kimberley.
- Client Service Officer – Inspection and Enforcement Services, Stanger – no experience required.
- Secretary: Youth Advocacy Coordination – North West.
- Administration Clerk (2 posts) – Vhembe and Mopani.
Opportunities for TVET graduates
Search for jobs that align with your TVET qualification, even if the title does not contain “TVET”. Look for roles such as:
- Administration Clerk
- Human Resources Officer
- Supply Chain Assistant
- Artisan or Technical Support
- Finance Assistant
- Maintenance Helper
- Personal Assistant
Match your N4, N5 or N6 qualification to the exact requirements in each vacancy.
Use the SETA SA TVET College Explorer to compare public TVET colleges and their programmes.
Artisan and technical vacancies
Circular 35 also lists artisan posts that require trade tests and specific technical skills. These are not entry‑level jobs; you need the appropriate trade qualification.
If you lack the required trade certificate, explore apprenticeship pathways through the SETA SA SETA Platform.
Sample vacancy groups
Department of Employment and Labour
Various clerical and support roles across provinces.
Department of Defence and Department of Agriculture
Driver and messenger positions, plus technical assistance roles.
Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness
Medical Specialist (General Surgery), Oral Hygienist, Tradesman Aid (Carpentry), Cleaner (Murraysburg Hospital), General Stores Assistant, General Worker (Supply Chain).
Health roles include Nursing Assistant (3 posts), Artisan Assistant, Staff Nurse (Paediatric and General wards).
Administration roles include several Administration Clerks in Stellenbosch, Dr Abdurahman CDC, Groote Schuur Hospital, Khayelitsha, Central Karoo EMS and Karl Bremer Hospital.
Technical positions include Artisan Production (Plumbing, Building & Civils), Pharmacist Assistant, Professional Nurse (various specialties), Administrative Officer (Support Services), Liaison Officer (Quality Assurance) and Social Worker (Grade 1‑4, 2 posts).
Western Cape Department of Education
Six Social Worker – Early Childhood Development (ECD) posts.
North West COGTA
Various administrative and support positions.
Limpopo Government
Administration Clerk (2 posts) – Vhembe, Administration Clerk – Mopani, Artisan Production (Grade A, Diesel Mechanic), Administrative Officer (Acquisition Management, Auxiliary Services, Service Delivery Intervention).
KwaZulu‑Natal and Gauteng
Secretary to the Director (IGR & Executive Support), Community Development Practitioner, Artisan Plumber (ST Chads CHC), Administrative Clerk (Supervisor – ST Chads CHC), Administrative Officer (Public‑Private Partnerships – Gauteng Treasury).
Why you should not search the circular blindly
The circular mixes senior, specialised roles with entry‑level jobs. Use the SETA SA Entry‑Level Jobs platform to focus on positions such as Administration Clerks, Registry Clerks, Drivers, Cleaners, General Workers, Tradesman Aids, Artisan Assistants, Secretaries and Supply‑Chain assistants.
Remember: the official advertisement decides if you qualify, not the platform.
Research the career, not just the vacancy
Think about where a role could lead you. The SETA SA Career & Qualification Explorer lets you browse South African occupations, OFO job families, SAQA qualifications and qualification pathways.
More than 1 500 OFO careers and 22 000 qualification records are available.
Relevant career areas in Circular 35 include Public Administration, Human Resources, Supply Chain Management, Accounting, Office Administration, Plumbing, Diesel Mechanics, Building & Construction, Nursing, Social Work, IT and Community Development.
Unsure which career suits you?
The SETA SA Career Discovery tool offers a short 30‑activity questionnaire (4‑6 minutes, no account needed). It suggests careers based on your interests. You must still check the qualification requirements for any suggested career.
Check QCTO‑accredited training providers before paying
If a vacancy shows you need a new qualification, use the QCTO provider information in the SETA SA Career & Qualification Explorer to find accredited training centres.
Never pay a provider without confirming its accreditation.
Build the experience you lack
If you miss a requirement, consider learnerships, apprenticeships, internships, work‑integrated‑learning (WIL) programmes or other skills programmes.
The SETA SA SETA Platform aggregates South Africa’s 21 SETAs and over 1 000 programmes, covering learnerships, apprenticeships, occupational qualifications, WIL, internships, artisan development, bursaries and skills programmes.
This is especially useful for TVET graduates who need workplace experience.
Recent internships you might consider
- International SOS Quality Internship Programme 2026 – quality, health & safety, compliance.
- FUCHS Group SHEQ Internship Programme 2026 – engineering, health & safety, environment, quality.
- Abbott South Africa Procurement Internship Programme 2026 – supply chain, logistics, procurement.
- NTT DATA Young Talent Graduate Programme, Apex Group graduate internships, SARS Graduate Talent Pool, TIA Bioprocessing Internship, IDC Graduate Internship Programme.
Latest learnerships and skills opportunities
- UIF ITR Learnership Programme 2026 – 12 months, R3 000 monthly stipend (for Matric applicants).
- Limpopo Office of the Premier & ETDP SETA Plumbing Short Skills Programme 2026 – 94 unemployed youth.
- City Lodge Hotels Yes4Youth Reception and Night‑Audit Programme 2026 – entry into hospitality.
Keep checking the SETA Platform for new apprenticeships and artisan pathways.
How to apply for DPSA Circular 35 vacancies
Do not send a generic CV to every posting.
Follow these steps:
- Open the vacancy on the SETA SA Entry‑Level Jobs platform or the official DPSA page.
- Read every requirement: reference number, centre, salary, qualifications, experience, licence, physical fitness, supporting documents, closing date.
- Complete the Z83 form with all required details and quote the vacancy reference.
- Send the form and documents to the department advertising the position, before the deadline.
Applications go to the hiring department – not to SETA SA.
Official requirements vs SETA guidance
Official requirements
The qualification, experience, licence, registration, competency, location, reference number, salary, application procedure and closing date stated in each vacancy are mandatory.
SETA guidance
The Career & Qualification Explorer, Career Discovery tool, TVET College Explorer, QCTO provider lookup, SETA Platform, internship and learnership recommendations are extra resources. They do not change the official requirements.
Keep researching learning pathways
After you submit an application, keep looking for other public‑service jobs on the SETA SA Entry‑Level Jobs platform.
Research occupations and qualifications with the Career & Qualification Explorer.
If you are unsure about your career direction, try the Career Discovery assessment.
Compare public TVET colleges using the TVET College Explorer.
Verify QCTO‑accredited providers before paying for any training.
Explore learnerships, apprenticeships, WIL and skills programmes on the SETA Platform.
Join the SETA SA Community to discuss applications, Z83 questions and experiences with other job seekers.
SETA SA Advice
Do not count applications; count suitable, complete, correctly targeted applications.
If you have Grade 10, focus first on vacancies that accept Grade 10.
If you have Matric, look at clerical, registry, secretarial and customer‑service roles.
If you hold an N6 or other TVET qualification, search by the occupational field, not just “N6 jobs”.
If you are trade‑tested, explore the artisan vacancies.
When you find gaps in qualifications or experience, use the Career & Qualification Explorer, TVET College Explorer and SETA Platform to fill them.
Typical pathways:
- Grade 10/12 → skills training → learnership/apprenticeship → qualification → workplace experience → government vacancy
- TVET qualification → WIL/apprenticeship → trade test → artisan vacancy
- Grade 12 → targeted entry‑level government application → interview → public‑service career
There is no single route. Know what you qualify for, see what you need, and keep building.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DPSA Circular 35 of 2026?
It is a public‑service vacancy circular that lists jobs advertised by national and provincial government departments.
Where can I find entry‑level jobs from Circular 35?
Use the SETA SA Entry‑Level Jobs platform to view the extracted vacancies.
Where can I access the original circular?
Visit DPSA Circular 35 of 2026 on the official DPSA website.
Are there Grade 10 jobs in Circular 35?
Yes. Examples include Driver/Messenger, Tradesman Aid (Carpentry) and Artisan Assistant. Additional requirements such as licences or experience also apply.
Are there jobs for people with Matric?
Yes. Many clerical, registry, secretarial, client‑service and administrative posts require only Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification.
Are there opportunities for TVET graduates?
Yes, provided your specific N4, N5 or N6 qualification matches the vacancy’s requirements.
Do I apply through SETA SA?
No. Applications must be submitted directly to the department advertising the vacancy, following the instructions in the advertisement.
Do I need the Z83 form?
Yes. The DPSA’s general directions require the prescribed Z83 form and the vacancy reference number.
Disclaimer
This article is based on DPSA Public Service Vacancy Circular 35 of 2026 and the extracted vacancy data. Positions may be amended, withdrawn or filled by the hiring department. Always verify the current vacancy status, requirements, reference number, salary, closing date and application procedure through the official advertisement before applying.
SETA SA does not recruit on behalf of DPSA or any government department, does not receive applications, and cannot guarantee shortlisting, interviews or employment. Never pay anyone who claims they can secure a government job for you.
Editorial Integrity
The vacancy titles, departments, centres and links were compiled from the Circular 35 dataset containing 61 records.
Official public‑service application guidance follows the Department of Public Service and Administration’s published directions.
Information about career planning, TVET colleges, QCTO provider research, the Career Discovery tool, the SETA Platform and recent internships, learnerships and skills opportunities is supplementary guidance to help you build broader education, training and employment pathways. These resources do not replace the official requirements of any government vacancy.
SETA SA IS A REGISTERED NON‑PROFIT ORGANISATION (NPO No: 232 – 182) AND PUBLIC BENEFIT ORGANISATION (PBO: 930066984). WE DO NOT SOLICIT MONEY OR RESUMES FOR JOBS. BE AWARE OF PHONY JOB POSTINGS AND RECRUITMENT SCAMS. USE THE SETA SA SCAM DETECTOR TOOL TO SPOT A SCAM BEFORE YOU APPLY.
