Department of Health Jobs: How to Apply for Cleaner, Porter & Security Officer Vacancies (Public Hospitals 2025

Also The South African Department of Health (DoH) is the national body responsible for overseeing and managing the country’s public healthcare system. This is not a private company but a core government department dedicated to providing essential healthcare services to all South Africans. 🩺

Image of a public hospital building in South Africa.

And Working for the DoH means you are a **public servant**. These roles are based within public hospitals and clinics, offering **stable employment. The chance to provide essential services to communities that need them most. If you are reliable, disciplined, and ready to work in a demanding yet rewarding environment, these **entry-level government jobs** are a strong career move.

Introduction / Company Overview

also The Department of Health manages the vast network of hospitals, clinics, and health facilities that form South Africa’s public healthcare backbone. And The DoH provides structured employment guided by the Public Service Act, guaranteeing stability, standardized salary structures, and comprehensive benefits. Support staff—including Cleaners, Porters, and Security Officers—are often referred to as the **”invisible front line.”** Their diligence in maintaining sterile environments, ensuring patient mobility, and securing premises is crucial to patient safety and the overall functionality of the hospital. Also These roles are essential in high-stakes environments like trauma units and operating theatres, providing reliable employment within a sector that is always critical.

Job Roles / Titles

And The following positions are frequently available at various public healthcare facilities. These roles are the backbone of a safe and functional hospital, requiring high dedication and strict adherence to protocol:

Cleaner / Porter (Logistics & Hygiene)

Also This is a combined role focused on **infection control** and **patient logistics**. As a **Cleaner**, your duty goes beyond basic tidiness; you ensure that wards, operating theatres, and public areas are kept sterile to prevent hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)—a critical public health task. As a **Porter**, you are responsible for safely transporting patients on stretchers or in wheelchairs between wards, X-ray departments, and operating rooms. This physically demanding role also involves moving vital equipment, oxygen tanks, and medical files efficiently and safely.

Security Officer (Access Control & Safety)

As a **Security Officer** in a hospital, your role is focused on the protection of vulnerable patients, essential staff, and state-owned property. You are often the first point of contact and must manage access control, patrol the extensive hospital grounds, monitor visitor movement, and enforce safety protocols.

Locations

These positions are available in public hospitals and clinics across all provinces. Key provinces with frequent high-volume recruitment include:

Gauteng (Academic & Tertiary): Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (Soweto), Steve Biko Academic Hospital (Pretoria), Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Tembisa Hospital.
KwaZulu-Natal (Coastal & Metro): Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (Durban), King Edward VIII Hospital (Durban), Addington Hospital (Durban), Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital.</li>
Eastern Cape (Regional Hubs): Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital (Mthatha), Dora Nginza Hospital (Gqeberha), Frere Hospital (East London), Port Elizabeth Provinc
ial Hospital.

=”wp-block-heading”>Requirements

All candidates must be South African citizens, have a clean criminal record, and be subject to security vetting typical of public service employment.

For Cleaner / Porter:

Education: A minimum of **Grade 10** or an equivalent ABET certificate.
Physicality: **Exceptional physical fitness** and the ability to be on your feet for long, continuous hours, and safely manage heavy lifting (patients/equipment).
Skills: Basic literacy (reading hospital signage/safety manuals), numeracy (counting linen/supplies), and empathy for dealing with ill or vulnerable patients.
**Attributes:** Reliability, discretion, and a **strong sense of responsibility** regarding hygiene and public health safety.

For Security Officer:

- Education: A minimum of **Grade 12 (Matric)** is often required.
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i>**Certification:** **Must be registered with PSiRA** (Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority) at a minimum of Grade C (or as specified by the advert

). Your certificate must be current.

**Fitness:** Physical fitness and willingness to work 24-hour rotational shifts (including night duty).
**Experience:** Proven experience in security, access control, or emergency response is highly valued.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Cleaner / Porter Duties:

Perform high-standard **terminal cleaning and disinfection** in high-risk areas like wards, trauma units, and operating theatres to prevent cross-contamination.
**Safely transport patients** to and from different medical departments using wheelchairs, trolleys, and beds, ensuring comfort and dignity.
Handle the **collection and disposal of both general and bio-hazardous medical waste** according to strict health and safety protocols.
Manage and distribute linen supplies and assist medical staff with moving heavy beds, specialized equipment, or oxygen apparatus.
Operate specialized heavy-duty cleaning machinery such as industrial floor buffers and polishers.

Security Officer Duties:

- - - Control and monitor **all entrance and exit points**, strictly enforcing access control procedures for staff, visitors, and vehicles.
 - Conduct **regular patrols** of the entire hospital premises, including parking lots, isolated wards, and sensitive storage areas.
 - **Respond immediately** to alarms, emergency calls, or disturbances (e.g., patient aggression, theft, or unauthorized access).
 - Monitor **CCTV systems** and maintain clear, accurate **incident reports and security logbooks** of all activities and breaches.
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i>Ensure the safe movement of high-value equipment and assist in controlling crowds during busy periods or emergencies (e.g., mass casualty incidents

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Salary and Compensation

Salaries for DoH roles are **not estimated**; they are structured according to the official **PSCBC (Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council) salary scales**. This ensures parity and reliability.

- - Salary Levels: These roles are typically advertised at **Salary Level 2 or Level 3** (Cleaner/Porter) and **Salary Level 3 or Level 4** (Security Officer).
 - Cleaner / Porter: Often advertised at Salary Level 2-3 (approximately **R107,196 – R126,276 per year**).
 - Security Officer: Often advertised at Salary Level 3-4 (approximately **R126,276 – R148,764 per year**).

💡 **Key Financial Benefit:** Your compensation includes mandatory contributions to the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) and a guaranteed annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) as negotiated by the Council, offering reliable salary growth.

Shift Schedule and Work Hours

Working in a hospital is a commitment to 24/7 service. **Hospitals operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.** Therefore, you must be willing to work a rigorous rotational shift schedule.

- - - **Rotational Shifts:** You will be rostered for morning (day), evening, and **night shifts** to ensure continuous service coverage.
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i>**Weekends & Public Holidays:** You are required to work on weekends and all public holidays, which are compensated according to public service regulation

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i>**Rostering:** Shifts are structured and provided via a roster well in advance, though flexibility may be required for emergencies (especially for Porters

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Why Work for the Government?

Working for the Department of Health offers unique benefits centered on financial and employment stability:

- **Unmatched Job Security:** Government roles are highly stable and are crucial positions within the state bureaucracy.
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i>**Pension Fund (GEPF):** You contribute to and benefit from the **Government Employees Pension Fund**, one of the largest and most secure pension funds globally, offering excellent retirement benefit

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i>**Medical Aid (GEMS):** You get access to the heavily **subsidized Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS)**, providing comprehensive and affordable healthcare cove

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i>**Housing Allowance:** Permanent employees may be eligible for a government housing allowance, subject to meeting conditions and specific salary level requirement

- s.
- **Leave Benefits:** You receive generous annual leave, sick leave, and maternity/paternity benefits as regulated by the Public Service Act.

Application Tips (How to Apply for Government Jobs)

You must follow the rules exactly to ensure your application reaches the shortlisting stage.

- - - <li>**The Z83 Form is Essential:** You **MUST** complete the official **New Z83 Application for Employment Form**.
- **Quote the Reference Number:** Every government job has a unique **Reference Number** (e.g., “REF: SEC/CHB/05”). Failure to include this will result in immediate rejection.
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i>**Certified Copies:** Attach **recently certified copies** (not older than 6 months) of your ID, driver’s license (if applicable), all qualifications (Matric/Grade 10), and the PSiRA certificate (for security roles

- ).
- **One Application Per Job:** Do not put multiple job reference numbers on one Z83 form. You must submit a separate, complete application pack for each position you apply for.
- **Porter/Cleaner Tip:** Your CV must highlight your physical fitness and understanding of hygiene protocols.</li>

How to Find and Apply for These Jobs

These jobs are posted on official government websites and are never advertised exclusively on social media. Follow this three-step process to ensure a correct submission:

- 1. <l

i>**Find the Official Circular:** Check the official Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) **”Vacancy Circulars”** page, or the careersportal for the specific **provincial Department of Health** (e.g., Gauteng Provincial Government – GPG e-Recruitment).</l

- i>
- **Prepare Documents:** Read the PDF circular for the job you want to confirm the specific hospital address and requirements. Complete your Z83 form and gather all certified documents (certified copies of ID and certificates).
- **Submit Correctly:** The advert will tell you *exactly* how to submit. You may need to:
  - **Post it** to a specific HR/Recruitment address.
  - **Hand-deliver it** to the hospital’s HR department (usually in a dedicated application box).
  - **Apply online** through a provincial e-Recruitment portal (e.g., Western Cape or Gauteng).

🚨 **FRAUD WARNING:** No government department will EVER ask you to pay money to apply for a job. All official applications are 100% free. Do not pay any money to individuals claiming to offer you a job.

Other Opportunities

If these roles aren’t the right fit, check out these other opportunities on our site in general work or administration: