Quick note on the year: Circular 34 belongs to 2026, not 2027. It was issued on 18 September 2026, and many of its posts close on 05 October 2026, which is only four days from today. Jobs for 2027 will appear in later circulars on the same DPSA page.
What is a Public Service Vacancy Circular?
The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) publishes a circular, normally every week except in December, that collects job adverts from national and provincial government departments in one document. The DPSA only compiles it. It does not run the recruitment, and it asks that questions about a post go to the department advertising it.
For job seekers this means one document can cover everything from a Grade 12 security guard post to a Director position. You choose a post, then apply to that department using its own method.
Direct links
- Official circular page: https://www.dpsa.gov.za/newsroom/psvc/circular-34-of-2026/
- Full circular (PDF): https://www.dpsa.gov.za/dpsa2g/documents/vacancies/2026/PSV%20CIRCULAR%2034%20of%202026.pdf
- Current Z83 form: www.gov.za/documents
- Nyukela (SMS pre-entry) course: https://www.thensg.gov.za/training-course/sms-pre-entry-programme/
Department application portals in this circular:
- Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: https://erecruitment.environment.gov.za/
- Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI): https://erecruitment.cpsi.co.za
- Employment and Labour: a separate email address for each post, such as [email protected]. Some posts also accept post or hand delivery.
- Communications and Digital Technologies: a link inside each advert, which requires a Google account.
- Basic Education: post, hand delivery or email, as listed in the advert.
Who is hiring in Circular 34
National departments:
- Basic Education
- Centre for Public Service Innovation
- Communications and Digital Technologies
- Employment and Labour
- Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
- Government Technical Advisory Centre
- Higher Education and Training
- Independent Police Investigative Directorate
- Justice and Constitutional Development
- Land Reform and Rural Development
- National School of Government
- Office of the Chief Justice
- Public Works and Infrastructure
- Social Development
- Sport, Arts and Culture
- Statistics South Africa
- Transport
- Treasury
- Water and Sanitation
Provincial administrations: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West and Western Cape.
The Western Cape section is the longest. The circular runs to over 230 pages, so use the index at the front to jump to your department.
Examples of posts and salaries
Salaries below are per year, as printed in the circular.
Entry level, with Grade 12 and no experience required:
- Security Guards, Basic Education (Pretoria): R201,093. This is a 12-month renewable contract and requires PSIRA registration.
- Senior Registry Clerk and Telecom Operator, Basic Education: R237,453
- Registry Clerk and Human Resource Clerk, Employment and Labour: R237,453
- Security Officer, Durban Labour Centre: R201,093
Graduate and internship posts:
- Intern: Internal Audit and Intern: Legal Services, CPSI: R98,097. These are 24-month contracts and require unemployed graduates.
- Inspector, Mdantsane (Labour): R280,278, with a three-year qualification and no experience required
Mid-level posts:
- Administrative Officer, Employment and Labour (East London): R338,106
- Senior Practitioner posts in HR and Employee Relations (Western Cape): R413,001 plus 37% in lieu of benefits, on three-year contracts
- Senior Administration Officer: Operations, Employment and Labour: 26 posts across Gauteng labour centres at R413,001
Professional and specialist posts:
- Counsellor Grade 1 to 3 (Ulundi): R741,102 to R1,055,292, requiring HPCSA registration
- Environmental and Biodiversity Officers, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: R518,769
- Control Environment Officer Grade A: R636,978
Management posts:
- Deputy Directors: R932,292 to R1,101,468. One example is Chief Information Security Officer at Basic Education, which asks for IT certifications such as CISA, CISM or CISSP.
- Directors (Level 13): R1,317,384. Examples include Law Reform, National School Nutrition Programme, and Technology Innovation and AI Governance.
Step-by-step: how to apply
1. Pick posts you actually qualify for. Read the Requirements line for the qualification level (NQF), the years of experience, and any registration or licence. Departments reject applications that don’t meet the minimum.
2. Note the reference number and closing date. Reference numbers look like DBE/71/2026 or HR4/4/10/4. Closing dates differ by department, and some posts close at 16:00 for hand delivery and 23:59 for online applications.
3. Download the current Z83. The circular tells applicants to use the version effective from 1 January 2021. Basic Education and Employment and Labour both state that the old form leads to disqualification.
4. Complete the Z83 in full.
- Fill in every required section.
- Initial and sign it where asked.
- Use a separate Z83 for each post.
- For the sections that ask for experience, the Employment and Labour advert allows “see CV”, but the question on conditions that prevent re-appointment must be answered and the declaration signed.
5. Prepare a detailed CV. Include your qualifications, your employment history with dates, and the duties you performed. Some departments, such as Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, require at least three contactable references, and CPSI asks you to include their email addresses.
6. Submit exactly as instructed. Don’t email a department that only accepts its online portal. CPSI, for example, will not consider emailed, posted or hand-delivered applications.
7. Quote the reference number and job title in the email subject or on the form.
8. Keep your documents ready. Certified copies of your ID, qualifications and driver’s licence are normally requested only if you are shortlisted, often by the interview day.
Documents to have ready
- Signed and completed Z83
- Updated CV
- Certified ID copy
- Certified qualification certificates and academic record
- Valid driver’s licence, if the post requires one
- SAQA evaluation certificate, if you hold a foreign qualification
- PSIRA registration, for security posts
- HPCSA registration, for psychology and counselling posts
- Nyukela certificate, for Senior Management Service posts
- Proof of experience, such as reference letters or contracts
What happens after you apply
- Shortlisting. Only shortlisted candidates are contacted.
- Pre-entry assessments. Several departments in this circular require a practical exercise and an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment for shortlisted candidates.
- Interviews. Senior posts add a technical exercise, and a maximum of three Senior Management candidates may face psychometric assessment.
- Personnel suitability checks. These cover criminal record, citizenship, credit or financial record, and qualification and employment verification. Some departments also mention social media checks.
- Appointment. Successful candidates sign an employment contract and a performance agreement. Senior managers also disclose their financial interests.
If you hear nothing, the circular’s waiting periods range from eight weeks to six months after the closing date, depending on the department. After that, assume the application was unsuccessful.
Common mistakes that get applications rejected
- Using the old Z83
- Forgetting to sign or initial the form
- Leaving out the reference number
- Sending one Z83 for several posts
- Applying to the wrong email address or portal
- Applying after the closing date
- Not meeting the minimum requirements
- Failing to declare required information, such as conflicts of interest
- Forgetting the SMS pre-entry certificate for senior posts
Equity and preference notes
Many adverts state that preference may go to candidates from under-represented groups under the department’s Employment Equity plan, and several encourage women and persons with disabilities to apply. These notes differ by post, so read the Note section of each advert rather than assuming it applies to you.
Tips to improve your chances
- Tailor your CV to each post by echoing the knowledge areas and skills in the advert.
- Apply early. Don’t wait for the last evening, because portals and email can fail.
- Contact the person named under Enquiries if the requirements are unclear.
- Check your email and phone regularly, including spam, after the closing date.
- Watch for unemployed-only posts. The CPSI internships require you to be unemployed, and anyone who previously did a government internship is not considered.
- Treat any request for money as a scam. Government posts are free to apply for, and real adverts come from official department channels.
- Use the official DPSA page to confirm closing dates. Some third-party job sites list different dates from the circular.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one link to apply for everything? No. The circular is a catalogue, and you apply to the department that placed the advert.
Do I need certified copies now? Usually not. Basic Education, CPSI and Employment and Labour all say certified copies are only for shortlisted candidates.
Can I apply for more than one post? Yes, but each application needs its own Z83 and reference number.
Can foreign nationals apply? Requirements differ by post. Some adverts refer to citizenship or permanent residency checks, so confirm with the department named in the advert.
Can I apply with a foreign qualification? Yes, but it must be evaluated by SAQA, usually at your own cost.
When will the next circular come out? The DPSA publishes weekly outside December. Check the DPSA page for newer circulars, including those covering 2027.
I can turn this into a Word document or PDF, or pull out only the posts for one province or one qualification level, such as Grade 12 only, if that would help.
Conversation
0 Comments