SARS General Assistant Vacancy 2026: Basic Literacy Applicants Can Apply
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) invites suitably qualified applicants to apply for its General Assistant: Level 1 (FTC) vacancy, advertised under Requisition ID 11610. The position is a fixed-term contract opportunity for applicants with basic literacy, including people with Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11 or Grade 12. However, applicants must also have experience working at a land border post, port of entry, airport or remote operational facility. The closing date for applications is 7 October 2026.
This opportunity may interest job seekers who have experience in cleaning, facilities support, maintenance or other operational environments. The successful candidate will help keep offices and facilities clean, provide refreshments for meetings and assist with general maintenance duties.
One important point to understand before applying is that Basic Literacy is the minimum education requirement, but education alone is not enough. SARS also requires relevant experience in one of the specific operational environments mentioned in the vacancy.
SARS General Assistant Vacancy Details
Here are the main details of the vacancy:
- Employer: South African Revenue Service (SARS)
- Position: General Assistant: Level 1 (FTC)
- Requisition ID: 11610
- Division: Taxpayer Engagement
- Employment Type: Fixed-Term Contract
- Minimum Education: Basic Literacy
- Experience: Experience at a land border post, port of entry, airport or remote operational facility
- Posted: 1 October 2026
- Closing Date: 7 October 2026
- Salary: Not provided in the vacancy information
The position reports to the Coordinator: Facilities within the Taxpayer Engagement division.
What Is the SARS General Assistant Job About?
The General Assistant will provide basic cleaning, refreshments and facilities support.
A large part of the job involves making sure office areas are clean and ready for employees and visitors. The successful candidate will also assist with refreshments for meetings and functions.
The role goes beyond ordinary cleaning, however. The General Assistant may also help with general maintenance at the facility.
This can include assisting with water plant and sewerage plant maintenance, as well as minor plumbing and electrical work.
Because some of these duties can involve operational facilities, applicants need to understand the importance of following safety procedures and workplace instructions.
Who Can Apply?
The education requirement for this position is relatively low compared with many other government vacancies.
SARS lists Basic Literacy as the minimum education requirement.
This means the vacancy is not specifically limited to applicants who have matric.
Applicants with:
- Grade 9
- Grade 10
- Grade 11
- Grade 12
may meet the education side of the requirement, provided they also meet the experience requirements.
However, applicants should not apply based on the education requirement alone.
Experience Requirement Is Important
The vacancy specifically requires experience working at a:
- Land border post
- Port of entry
- Airport
- Remote operational facility
This is an important requirement for people considering the position.
For example, someone may have several years of general cleaning experience but no experience in one of these types of operational environments. They should carefully check the full vacancy requirements before applying.
If you do have relevant experience, make sure it is clearly shown on your CV.
Your CV should explain where you worked, what type of facility it was and what duties you performed.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
The successful General Assistant will perform several duties related to cleaning, refreshments and facility support.
Some of the main responsibilities include:
- Performing cleaning duties according to the required quality standards.
- Preparing tea and other refreshments for meetings and functions.
- Using workplace resources carefully.
- Reporting shortages or problems.
- Planning and organising daily tasks.
- Reporting daily activities and progress.
- Identifying and reporting problems.
- Following workplace processes and instructions.
- Providing updates on requests and assigned tasks.
- Assisting with general maintenance at the port or facility.
- Assisting with water plant maintenance.
- Assisting with sewerage plant maintenance.
- Assisting with minor plumbing work.
- Assisting with minor electrical work.
- Following health and safety requirements.
- Following governance and compliance procedures.
The job therefore requires someone who can handle different types of basic support work and follow instructions from supervisors.
Cleaning and Office Support
Cleaning is one of the main parts of this position.
The General Assistant must make sure assigned areas meet the required cleanliness standards. This means completing cleaning tasks properly and reporting any problems that may affect the condition of the workplace.
The employee may also be responsible for preparing refreshments when meetings or other office activities take place.
This requires good planning because the employee needs to organise daily duties and complete tasks within the required time.
Maintenance Support
Another part of the position involves helping with facility maintenance.
The successful candidate may assist with:
- General port maintenance.
- Water plant maintenance.
- Sewerage plant maintenance.
- Minor plumbing tasks.
- Minor electrical tasks.
Applicants should understand that these are support duties and must be performed according to workplace instructions and safety procedures.
If a problem is found, it should be reported to the appropriate person instead of being ignored.
Health and Safety
Health and safety are important requirements for the SARS General Assistant position.
The employee will need to follow Occupational Health and Safety requirements while performing cleaning and maintenance duties.
This is especially important when working around water plants, sewerage systems, electrical equipment or other operational facilities.
Applicants should have a working knowledge of workplace health and safety and understand why procedures need to be followed.
Skills and Competencies
SARS lists several skills and behavioural qualities that are important for this position.
These include:
- Accountability
- Attention to detail
- Honesty and integrity
- Respect
- Trust
- Organisational awareness
- Commitment to continuous learning
The role also requires the ability to provide administrative support, improve efficiency, collect and analyse information and assist with meetings and events.
Applicants should therefore be able to organise their work and communicate progress to their supervisor.
What Kind of Person Is SARS Looking For?
The ideal candidate should be responsible and able to complete tasks without needing constant supervision.
Attention to detail is important because cleaning and facility work often involves noticing small problems before they become bigger ones.
Honesty is also important because the employee will work in a professional government environment and must follow workplace rules.
The successful candidate should also be willing to learn. Different facilities may have different procedures, so being able to listen, learn and follow instructions is useful.
Employment Equity and People With Disabilities
SARS states that its Employment Equity policy will be taken into consideration during recruitment and selection.
The organisation also encourages persons with disabilities to apply.
Applicants should still meet the requirements of the vacancy when submitting an application.
Screening and Selection
People applying for this position should also be aware that the recruitment process may involve several checks.
Successful candidates may be required to complete or undergo:
- An oath of secrecy.
- Pre-employment screening.
- A case study.
- Pre-assessment.
- Psychometric assessment.
- Vetting.
- Declaration of private interest.
- Appropriate reference checks.
- Security clearance where applicable.
These checks form part of the selection process and may be required depending on the position and circumstances.
Salary Information
The vacancy information provided does not state a salary amount for the General Assistant: Level 1 position.
Job seekers should therefore avoid relying on salary figures from other websites or unrelated SARS vacancies.
The important information currently available is that this is a fixed-term contract position under Requisition ID 11610.
How to Apply for the SARS General Assistant Vacancy
Interested applicants should use the official recruitment information for SARS General Assistant: Level 1 (FTC), Requisition ID 11610.
Before applying, make sure your CV is updated and clearly shows your relevant experience.
In particular, highlight any experience you have gained at a land border post, port of entry, airport or remote operational facility.
