Looking for government jobs with Grade 12, Grade 11, or ABET qualifications? The Department of Defence has announced a wide range of entry-level vacancies across Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Northern Cape. These posts include clerks, cleaners, drivers, food service aids, groundsmen, messengers, store assistants, registry clerks, switchboard operators, and more.
If you want to start or grow your career in the public service, these Department of Defence entry-level vacancies offer many opportunities in different Air Force Bases and Defence units. Most of the posts need little or no experience, making them suitable for first-time job seekers and applicants looking for support-level government jobs.
| Employer | Department of Defence |
|---|---|
| Closing Date | 27 March 2026 at 16h00 |
| Location | Various locations in South Africa |
| Application Method | Email, post, or hand delivery |
| Focus Area | Entry-level vacancies |
Department of Defence entry-level vacancies available
The Department of Defence advertised many entry-level and support-level posts in different provinces. These include vacancies for applicants with Grade 12, Grade 11, ABET, and in some cases a driver’s licence or trade test certificate.
Grade 12 and Grade 11 vacancies
Personnel Official: Supervisor x2
Ref No: AFBMKD/02/08/26/01
Location: AFB Makhado, Limpopo
Salary: R325 101 to R382 959 per annum
Requirements include Grade 12 and at least three years of Human Resource Management experience. The job focuses on HR support services, leave, travel requests, medals and awards, reserve force administration, office administration, and handling HR documentation.
Registry Clerk: Supervisor
Ref No: AFBBSPT/02/08/26/01
Location: AFB Bloemspruit, Bloemfontein
Salary: R325 101 to R382 959 per annum
Applicants need Grade 12 and at least three years of experience in records management. Duties include supervising registry staff, maintaining records systems, managing classification systems, and ensuring paper and electronic filing systems are aligned.
Personnel Official: Supervisor
Ref No: AFBHPST/02/08/26/01
Location: AFB Hoedspruit, Limpopo
Salary: R325 101 to R382 959 per annum
This post requires Grade 12 and three years of HR Management experience. It involves providing HR administration services, supporting utilization management, compiling reports, and ensuring compliance with Department of Defence HR policies.
Plumber
Ref No: AFBOVR/02/08/26/01
Location: AFB Overberg, Bredasdorp
Salary: R269 499 to R317 463 per annum
Applicants need Grade 12 plus a three-year qualification in Civil Engineering or Plumbing and at least one year of experience. The post covers plumbing maintenance, installation and repair work, maintenance planning, job cards, and spares coordination.
Administration Clerk: Production x2
Ref No: AFBHSPT/02/08/26/02
Location: AFB Hoedspruit, Limpopo
Salary: R228 321 to R268 950 per annum
Grade 12 is required and no experience is needed. Duties include stock support, store administration, data registers, stocktaking, issuing and receiving stores, cleaning stores, and assisting with provisioning activities.
Provisioning Administration Clerk: Production
Ref No: AFBMKD/02/08/26/02
Location: AFB Makhado, Limpopo
Salary: R228 321 to R268 950 per annum
This is another Grade 12 post with no experience required. The work includes demand and purchasing support, warehouse tasks, stock control, provisioning updates, and store support functions.
Registry Clerk Production
Ref No: AFBMKD/02/08/26/03
Location: AFB Makhado, Limpopo
Salary: R228 321 to R268 950 per annum
Applicants need Grade 12 and no experience. The successful candidate will support record management, maintain file plans, process amendments, answer reference enquiries, and keep record systems updated.
Secretary
Ref No: AFBBSPT/02/08/26/02
Location: AFB Bloemspruit, Bloemfontein
Salary: R228 321 to R268 950 per annum
This Grade 12 vacancy does not require experience. Duties include diary management, taking calls, arranging meetings, preparing minutes, managing documents, organising events, handling travel arrangements, and supporting the manager’s office.
Administration Clerk: Production
Ref No: AFBBSPT/02/08/26/03
Location: AFB Bloemspruit, Bloemfontein
Salary: R228 321 to R268 950 per annum
A Grade 12 qualification is required, with no experience needed. The post involves clerical support, leave capture, travel and subsistence capture, asset register updates, report capturing, and filing.
Administration Clerk: Production
Ref No: AFSPE/02/08/26/01
Location: AFS PE, Port Elizabeth
Salary: R228 321 to R268 950 per annum
This is a no-experience Grade 12 post for general clerical work, personnel administration support, database updates, report capturing, asset recording, and telephone enquiries.
Administration Clerk: Production
Ref No: SAAFCOL/02/08/26/01
Location: SA Air Force College, Pretoria
Salary: R228 321 to R268 950 per annum
Applicants need Grade 12 and no experience. Duties focus on logistics and supply support, stock maintenance, provisioning records, stocktaking, and warehouse organisation.
Registry Clerk Production x2
Ref No: SAAFCOL/02/08/26/02
Location: Listed under SA Air Force College, with applications directed to AFB Langebaanweg
Salary: R228 321 to R268 950 per annum
This post needs Grade 12 and no experience. Duties include records management, classification systems, maintaining paper and electronic versions of records, and answering file reference queries.
Registry Clerk
Ref No: AFBOVB/02/08/26/02
Location: Air Force Base Overberg, Bredasdorp
Salary: R228 321 to R268 950 per annum
Applicants need Grade 12 and no experience. The duties mainly focus on records management procedures, classification systems, enquiries, and record maintenance.
Registry Clerk x3
Ref No: AFBYPLT/02/08/26/01
Location: AFB Ysterplaat
Salary: R228 321 to R268 950 per annum
This post requires Grade 12 and no experience. The successful candidates will handle records classification systems, document procedures, updates, and filing processes.
Administration Clerk: Production x3
Ref No: AFBYTPLT/0208/26/02
Location: AFB Ysterplaat
Salary: R228 321 to R268 950 per annum
Applicants need Grade 12 and no experience. The work includes supply support, warehouse duties, stock counts, binning, stock issue and receipt, and operational readiness support.
Secretary
Ref No: PROCUREMENT UNIT/02/08/26/01
Location: Mobile Deployment Wing, Pretoria
Salary: R228 321 to R268 950 per annum
This Grade 12 post has no experience requirement. Duties include secretarial support, diary management, calls, meeting arrangements, minutes, travel claims, filing, stationery, and logistical coordination.
Switchboard Operator
Ref No: AFBMKD/02/08/26/04
Location: AFB Makhado, Limpopo
Salary: R193 359 to R227 766 per annum
Grade 12 is required and no experience is stated. Duties include managing switchboard operations, ensuring proper telephone traffic flow, reporting defects, training relief staff, keeping directories updated, and supervising subordinates.
Switchboard Operator
Ref No: AFBOVB/02/08/26/03
Location: AFB Overberg, Bredasdorp
Salary: R193 359 to R227 766 per annum
Applicants need Grade 12. The work includes switchboard operations, telephone enquiries, maintenance reporting, call monitoring, records, and directory updates.
Switchboard
Ref No: AFBYPLT02/08/26/03
Location: AFB Ysterplaat
Salary: R193 359 to R227 766 per annum
This post requires Grade 12. The successful applicant will answer and forward calls, handle enquiries, maintain security registers, take messages, and support telecom operations.
Switchboard
Ref No: AFBDBN REF/02/08/26/01
Location: AFB Durban
Salary: R193 359 to R227 766 per annum
Applicants need Grade 12. Duties include switchboard management, keeping call records, updating telephone directories, supervising subordinates, and maintaining proper telecom flow.
Senior Driver Operator x2
Ref No: AFBMKD/02/08/26/05
Location: AFB Makhado, Limpopo
Salary: R193 359 to R227 766 per annum
Applicants need Grade 12, a Code C1 driver’s licence, a valid PDP, and at least two years of driving experience. Duties include supervising the transport section, managing vehicle allocation, tracking maintenance, and keeping records.
Senior Driver Operator
Ref No: AFBLGBW/02/08/26/02
Location: AFB Langebaanweg
Salary: R193 359 to R227 766 per annum
This post has the same key driver requirements and focuses on supervision of vehicles, maintenance schedules, car logs, and transport procedures.
Driver Operator
Ref No: AFBMKD/02/08/26/06
Location: AFB Makhado, Limpopo
Salary: R163 680 to R163 131 per annum
Applicants need Grade 11, a Code C1 driver’s licence, and at least three years of driving experience. Duties include transporting passengers or items, maintaining the vehicle, keeping logbooks, and providing messenger support.
Driver Operator
Ref No: AFBBSPT/02/08/26/04
Location: AFB Bloemspruit, Bloemfontein
Salary: R163 680 to R163 131 per annum
This post requires Grade 11 and driving experience. The work includes vehicle operation, logbooks, goods transport, and administrative messenger support.
Driver Operator
Ref No: AFBDBN/02/08/26/02
Location: AFB Durban
Salary: R163 680 to R163 131 per annum
Applicants need Grade 11 and a Code C1 licence with driving experience. Duties are similar and include safe transport, vehicle care, recordkeeping, and irregular-hour support.
ABET vacancies with no experience
The Department of Defence also advertised many ABET entry-level vacancies, especially at AFB Makhado, AFB Durban, AFB Hoedspruit, AFB Ysterplaat, AOTC Lohatla, AFB Bloemspruit, AFS PE, and AFB Langebaanweg.
These include:
Food Service Aid
Available at:
- AFB Makhado x8
- AFB Bloemspruit x2
- AFB Durban x4
- AFB Hoedspruit x2
These posts focus on food preparation support, serving meals, cleaning kitchens and dining areas, washing after meals, and maintaining hygiene.
Store Assistant
Available at:
- AFB Makhado x10
- AFB Durban x2
- AFB Ysterplaat x4
- AFB Hoedspruit x1
The role includes receiving and issuing equipment, maintaining registers, checking store goods, and assisting with store tasks.
Groundsman
Available at:
- AFB Makhado x14
- AFS PE x2
- AFB Durban x3
- AFB Hoedspruit x2
- AFB Ysterplaat x2
Duties include mowing lawns, maintaining flower beds, irrigating grounds, removing refuse, loading equipment, and keeping unit areas neat.
Road Workers Aid
Available at:
- AFB Makhado x1
- AFB Langebaanweg x5
These posts involve runway and taxiway maintenance support, sweeping, serviceability inspections, and infrastructure support.
Cleaner
Available at:
- AFS PE x1
- AOTC Lohatla x1
- AFB Ysterplaat x2
- AFB Durban x8
- AFB Hoedspruit x12
Duties include sweeping, vacuuming, polishing, cleaning ablution facilities, and reporting defects.
Messenger
Available at:
- AFB Bloemspruit x1
- AOTC Lohatla x1
These jobs include messenger and driving support, document dispatch, vehicle maintenance, and recordkeeping.
Household Aid
Available at:
- AFB Durban x4
The work focuses on cleaning offices and facilities, maintaining student bungalow cleanliness, and reporting defects.
Tradesman Aid
Available at:
- AFB Ysterplaat x1
- AFB Durban x2
- AFB Hoedspruit x8
Applicants need ABET plus a Trade Test Certificate. Duties include workshop support, plumbing assistance, equipment repair support, cleaning machinery, safe work preparation, and maintenance tasks.
How to apply
Applications for these Department of Defence entry-level vacancies must be submitted on the prescribed Z83 form. The correct Z83 form must be used, signed, and dated. You must attach a detailed CV only.
If you apply for more than one post, you must submit a separate Z83 form and separate application for each vacancy.
Applications can be submitted by post, hand delivery, or email depending on the specific post. Use the application address or email listed under each vacancy.
Examples include:
- AFB Makhado: afbmkdhr@dod.mil.za
- AFB Bloemspruit: simthembile.gentsana@dod.mil.za
- AFB Hoedspruit: Prince.Ratheko@dod.mil.za
- AFB Overberg: mark.gomez@dod.mil.za
- AFB Durban: afbdbnhr@dod.mil.za
- AFS PE: afspehr@dod.mil.co.za
- AFB Ysterplaat: edrich.wilson@dod.mil.za
- AOTC Lohatla: aotchr@dod.mil.co.za
- AFB Langebaanweg: lbwgmove@dod.mil.za
- SA Air Force College / Mobile Deployment Wing: saafcolhr@dod.mil.za or mobiledeploymentwing@dod.mil.za
Important application notes
Applicants must remember the following:
- Closing date is 27 March 2026 at 16h00
- Late applications and faxed copies will not be accepted
- Use the correct Z83 form
- Submit only a detailed CV with your application
- Certified documents will only be needed from shortlisted candidates
- Separate applications must be submitted for each post
- Shortlisted candidates will undergo suitability checks, qualification verification, and security clearance
- Successful candidates will be appointed on probation for 12 months
- If you do not hear back within 3 months after the closing date, consider your application unsuccessful
Why these Department of Defence entry-level vacancies stand out
These Department of Defence entry-level vacancies stand out because they include a very wide range of jobs for applicants with lower formal qualifications, including ABET, Grade 11, and Grade 12. There are also posts for candidates with licences, trade certificates, or some work experience. With vacancies spread across several provinces, these jobs could help many South Africans enter government service in 2026.
Final tip
Apply early, use the correct reference number, and make sure your Z83 form is signed and dated. Because there are many Department of Defence entry-level vacancies in this circular, it is important to submit a separate application for each post you want.