Tradesman Aid Building (Carpentry) Vacancy – Head Office, Cape Town

Are you an experienced building trades worker looking for an opportunity to work in the public sector? The Western Cape Government is inviting suitably qualified candidates to apply for a Tradesman Aid: Building (Carpentry) position within the Directorate: Engineering and Technical Support Services.

This position is based at Head Office in Cape Town and offers an annual salary of R144 024. The successful candidate will provide practical support to artisans and technical personnel while assisting with maintenance, repairs, installations and alterations across facilities.

The position may be particularly suitable for candidates with practical experience in carpentry, plumbing, painting and general building maintenance who are comfortable performing manual work and travelling when required.

Tradesman Aid Building Vacancy Details

Position: Tradesman Aid: Building (Carpentry)
Directorate: Engineering and Technical Support Services
Salary: R144 024 per annum
Centre: Head Office, Cape Town
Field: Building, Carpentry and General Maintenance
Employment Sector: Government / Public Sector

The role involves hands-on maintenance work and supporting artisans with various building-related tasks. Applicants should therefore be prepared to work in practical environments and perform physically demanding duties.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants interested in this Tradesman Aid position should carefully consider the minimum requirements before submitting an application.

Educational Qualification

The minimum educational requirement is:

Grade 10 or an equivalent qualification.

Although the formal educational requirement is Grade 10, applicants should also have relevant practical workshop and building-trade experience.

Experience

Candidates should have:

Appropriate basic workshop experience.
Appropriate experience in the relevant building-related fields.
Practical knowledge and experience in building trades.
Experience or exposure to carpentry, plumbing, painting and general building work would be beneficial.

The position is hands-on, meaning applicants should be comfortable working with tools, materials and equipment and assisting qualified artisans with maintenance and repair activities.

Inherent Requirements of the Job

The position has several practical requirements that applicants should be able to meet.

The successful candidate must be:

Willing to travel throughout the Western Cape Province.
Physically fit to perform manual labour.
Comfortable working in workshops and on building sites or maintenance areas.
Able to work as part of a team.
Able to assist artisans with assigned maintenance and repair tasks.

Because some maintenance activities may involve emergency breakdowns, applicants should also understand that occasional after-hours repair work may be required.

Important Links

Skills and Competencies

The Tradesman Aid will work with tools, materials, equipment and other technical resources. Applicants should therefore possess practical skills and knowledge relevant to the position.

Ability to Handle Tools

Candidates should be capable of safely handling tools used in building and maintenance activities. Proper care and control of tools will be an important part of the position.

Communication Skills

Good communication skills are required because the employee will work with artisans, supervisors and other staff members. The ability to understand instructions and communicate effectively is important in a maintenance environment.

Interpersonal Skills

The successful applicant should have good interpersonal skills and be able to work cooperatively with colleagues and supervisors.

Building Trade Knowledge

Applicants should have sound knowledge of building-related trades, particularly:

Carpentry
Plumbing
Painting
General building work
Basic maintenance
Drywall installation
Ceiling installation
Glazing
Skimming
Spray painting

Knowledge of several building trades can be useful because the position involves supporting different maintenance activities.

Knowledge of Building Regulations and Occupational Safety

Applicants should have basic sound knowledge of the SANS 10400 building regulations and understand the importance of complying with applicable building standards.

The position also requires candidates to be conversant with the requirements of the Machinery and Occupational Health and Safety legislation applicable to the workplace.

Safety is particularly important in maintenance and construction-related environments. Employees may work with tools, equipment, materials and infrastructure, making proper safety procedures essential.

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will perform a variety of maintenance and support duties. These responsibilities will primarily involve building-related trades, with a particular focus on carpentry.

Minor Maintenance Tasks

One of the main responsibilities will be carrying out minor maintenance tasks. These may involve repairing, replacing or maintaining components of buildings and infrastructure.

The employee will work under the direction of artisans or supervisors and assist in ensuring that facilities remain functional and properly maintained.

Installation of Plant and Equipment

The Tradesman Aid will assist with the installation of plant and equipment, as well as alterations to existing facilities.

This may include preparing work areas, handling materials, using appropriate tools and assisting qualified artisans during installation activities.

Tools and Materials

The employee will help ensure that the required tools and materials are available when needed.

Good control of tools and materials is essential in a maintenance environment. The employee may also be responsible for ensuring that tools are properly stored and accounted for after use.

Maintaining a Clean Working Environment

The position requires working areas, workshops and other environments to be kept clean and free of obstructions.

The employee will be expected to ensure that work areas are cleaned daily and that materials, tools and other items do not create unnecessary hazards.

Supporting Artisans

A major part of the job will involve assisting artisans in carrying out their duties.

The Tradesman Aid may work under the supervision of an Artisan Foreman or Artisan, completing specific tasks assigned by the supervisor.

This provides an opportunity for someone with practical building experience to work alongside skilled technical personnel in a structured maintenance environment.

Carpentry, Plumbing, Painting and Building Work

Although the position is advertised as Building (Carpentry), the duties extend across several related building trades.

The employee may be required to assist with:

Carpentry repairs
Plumbing-related maintenance
Painting
Building work
Glazing
Skimming
Drywall installations
Ceiling installations
Spray-painting of equipment
General infrastructure maintenance

This broad range of responsibilities means applicants should be prepared to work beyond one specific task when operational requirements demand it.

Maintenance of Hospital Buildings and Facilities

The position involves maintenance work at facilities, including hospital buildings.

Duties may include painting, glazing, skimming, drywall and ceiling installations, as well as spray-painting equipment.

The employee will contribute to keeping infrastructure and facilities in good working condition and will be expected to perform duties according to applicable standards and regulations.

Job Cards and Maintenance Requests

The Tradesman Aid will be required to take control of job cards assigned to them.

Job cards are important in maintenance environments because they help track work requests, repairs and maintenance activities.

Applicants should therefore be organised and able to follow instructions relating to assigned work.

Emergency Breakdowns

The position may involve responding to emergency breakdowns, including after-hours repairs.

Applicants should understand that maintenance services can sometimes require urgent intervention to restore infrastructure, equipment or facilities.

The ability to respond responsibly to urgent maintenance requirements is therefore important.

New Installations and Alterations

The employee may also assist with the planning and décor of new installations and alterations.

This could involve assisting artisans and supervisors with preparing areas, installing building components and completing finishing-related work.

Practical knowledge of carpentry and other building trades can be useful when working on alterations and new installations.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

For candidates with practical building and workshop experience, this position provides an opportunity to work within a structured public-sector technical environment.

The role offers exposure to different aspects of building maintenance, including carpentry, plumbing, painting and general building work.

Successful candidates will also work alongside artisans and supervisors, assisting with infrastructure maintenance and repairs across facilities.

The position may be suitable for someone who enjoys practical work, has experience using tools and wants to develop their experience in a formal maintenance environment.

Important Points for Applicants

Before applying, candidates should make sure that they meet the stated requirements.

In particular, applicants should consider whether they:

Have at least Grade 10 or an equivalent qualification.
Have appropriate basic workshop experience.
Have practical experience in building-related trades.
Can safely handle relevant tools.
Are physically fit for manual labour.
Are willing to travel throughout the Western Cape Province.
Have basic knowledge of SANS 10400 building regulations.
Understand workplace health and safety requirements.
Can work effectively with artisans and supervisors.
Are prepared to assist with emergency and after-hours maintenance when required.

Applicants should ensure that all information supplied in their application is accurate and that they follow the official application instructions associated with the vacancy.

Final Thoughts

The Tradesman Aid: Building (Carpentry) position offers a practical opportunity for an individual with basic workshop and building-trade experience to work within the Engineering and Technical Support Services environment.

With a salary of R144 024 per annum and a duty station at Head Office in Cape Town, the role focuses heavily on practical maintenance, repairs, installations and support for artisans.

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to carpentry, plumbing, painting and general building activities, while also assisting with the maintenance of hospital buildings and other facilities. Good tool-handling skills, communication, teamwork, safety awareness and practical building knowledge will be important.

Candidates who meet the minimum Grade 10 educational requirement and have the relevant practical experience should carefully review the official vacancy advertisement and application instructions before submitting an application.

Remember: Meeting the minimum requirements does not automatically guarantee appointment. Applicants should provide complete and accurate information and ensure that their application is submitted according to the official recruitment requirements.

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