Fancy a steady government job in the capital? The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development needs two Secretaries in Pretoria. Pay’s R237,453 a year, Level 05. And the good news for a lot of people: matric is really all it takes to get in the running.
Here’s the catch worth knowing upfront. The two jobs look almost the same, but they sit in different departments and each has its own reference number. So you’ve got to apply for the right one. On paper you just need a Grade 12 certificate or something equivalent to it. Clock the deadline too — everything’s got to be in by 28 September 2026 at 16:00.
The two posts, side by side
| Position | Directorate | Reference | Salary | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secretary | Strategic Institutional Partnerships | 3/1/1/1/2026/222 | R237,453 per year | Pretoria, Gauteng |
| Secretary | Forensic Investigations | 3/1/1/1/2026/221 | R237,453 per year | Pretoria, Gauteng |
Both are Level 05.
What they’re after
Matric, first off. After that, they want someone who knows their way around a computer — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, that sort of thing.
But honestly, this job is more about people than software. A good phone manner. The ability to stay organised when things get busy. Getting on with all kinds of people, whether they’re the boss or a first-time visitor. Writing and speaking clearly. And knowing when to keep things to yourself, because there’s a fair bit of sensitive stuff that crosses a secretary’s desk. One thing to note: the advert doesn’t ask for previous work experience.
What you’d actually be doing
Boiled down, you’re the person keeping senior management running smoothly. The admin, the reception, the clerical bits, the secretariat side. You’d answer the phones and send callers to the right person, keep a diary of appointments and events, type up documents and work the office machines.
There’s the meeting side of it as well. Booking a venue, sending out the invites, sorting the tea and coffee, putting the schedule together. Plus whatever clerical backup the senior manager needs on any given day.
Travel, claims and all the paperwork
The role dips into travel too. You’d talk to the travel agencies to book official trips and give the arrangements a once-over when the paperwork lands. Travel and subsistence claims, invoices from the manager’s unit — those come your way. So does keeping the leave register straight and dealing with the phone accounts.
Keeping the documents moving
A big slice of the day is just keeping paper flowing through the office. Documents come in, you log them, you send them where they need to go, you file. You’d draft the routine letters and reports, take down the basic minutes when a meeting calls for it, and dig out whatever the Director needs before they head into a meeting. Oh — and ordering the everyday office stuff, the stationery and refreshments, falls to you too.
The Strategic Institutional Partnerships post
Reference: 3/1/1/1/2026/222
Directorate: Strategic Institutional Partnerships
Centre: Pretoria, Gauteng
Salary: R237,453 per year (Level 05)
Questions? Ring Mr I Mokalapa on (012) 312 8257.
Send your application, with that reference on it, to [email protected]. Rather do it in person? Drop it off during office hours at:
600 Lilian Ngoyi Street (formerly Van Der Walt Street), Berea Park, Pretoria, 0001
The Forensic Investigations post
Reference: 3/1/1/1/2026/221
Directorate: Forensic Investigations
Centre: Pretoria, Gauteng
Salary: R237,453 per year (Level 05)
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For this one, Mr M Rammutla is your contact, on (012) 312 9840.
Applications go to [email protected], or hand them in at the same Pretoria address.
Employment equity targets
The notice sets out equity targets for each post. For Strategic Institutional Partnerships, those cover African, Coloured, Indian and White males, Coloured, Indian and White females, and persons with disabilities. For Forensic Investigations, they take in African, Coloured, Indian and White males, African, Coloured, Indian and White females, and persons with disabilities. The full equity detail for each post is in the official notice, so have a look there.
How to apply
You’ll need a completed Z83 form and a detailed CV, and the department wants both as one PDF — no bigger than 10MB. Email it or hand it in at the Pretoria office.
The addresses one more time, so you don’t mix them up:
- Reference 3/1/1/1/2026/222 → [email protected]
- Reference 3/1/1/1/2026/221 → [email protected]
Make sure you’re applying for the right post with the right reference. It’s the sort of small slip that costs people a shot.
Closing date
Both close on 28 September 2026 at 16:00. The department’s said straight out that it won’t carry the can for server delays, and anything that lands late because of technical trouble won’t count. So don’t sit on it till the last day. Get it in with time to spare.
If you make the shortlist
Get shortlisted and you may be asked for certified copies of the relevant documents — your ID, your qualifications, any other supporting papers, and service certificates where they apply. Studied abroad? You’ll need a SAQA evaluation report. The department also notes that service certificates have to back up senior management experience where that’s part of the picture.
Apologies — the response got cut off at the table. Here’s the rest of the article to complete it:
Key details at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Employer | Department of Land Reform and Rural Development |
| Positions | 2 Secretary posts |
| Salary | R237,453 per year |
| Level | Level 05 |
| Location | Pretoria, Gauteng |
| Minimum qualification | Grade 12 or relevant equivalent |
| Experience | Not listed as a minimum in the supplied advert |
| Closing date | 28 September 2026 |
| Closing time | 16:00 |
| Application form | Z83 |
| CV | Detailed CV, PDF, max 10MB |
Before you send it off
Check that reference number first — twice, if you have to. The two jobs read almost identically but sit in different directorates and use different email addresses, so it’s an easy one to get wrong. And make sure your Z83 and detailed CV are both complete and saved in the PDF format they’ve asked for.
One last honest word: ticking the minimum boxes doesn’t mean the job’s yours. If you’re shortlisted, expect to be asked for supporting documents before any interview.
Source and verification: This article is based on the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development vacancy information supplied for the two Secretary positions, including the stated requirements, duties, salary, application instructions and closing date.
Editorial policy: Our vacancy articles are built from recruitment information and aim to keep confirmed requirements clearly separate from general career guidance. We don’t add qualifications, salaries, experience requirements or closing dates that aren’t in the available vacancy information.
Corrections policy: If an error is identified, we check it against the relevant recruitment information and correct confirmed factual mistakes promptly.
Disclaimer: Government vacancies can be amended, withdrawn or subject to administrative changes. Verify the latest vacancy information and application instructions with the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development before applying. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee appointment.
A quick word on scams: Genuine public-service posts never ask you to pay to apply or to interview. If anyone requests money to process your application, treat it as a warning sign.
