Updated 2026-11-14
A job advert can copy a real department name, logo, staff member or letterhead. Do not rely on how professional it looks. Before applying for a South African government post, find the same vacancy on the department's own official channel and compare every important detail.
Never pay anyone to apply, be screened, be trained, be verified, be shortlisted or be appointed to a genuine public job.
Treat the advert as suspicious if it asks for money, especially by e-wallet, cash transfer or payment at a shop. The Department of Employment and Labour says it charges no fee for job applications or tender proposals. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure says it will never ask for payment for any advertised job.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| A request for an application, processing, training, verification, background-check, shortlisting or appointment payment | Stop. Do not pay and do not continue with the application. |
| A link, website or email address that is not the employer's official channel | Do not use the link. Open the official department website yourself and look for the vacancy there. |
| A message that asks for your ID number, banking information or other confidential details before you have verified the post | Do not send the information. The Department of Employment and Labour warns that bogus offers may seek these details. |
| A convincing logo, letterhead, staff name, or a message with spelling and grammar errors | Do not treat either as proof. The Department of Employment and Labour says scammers have misused its insignia, letterheads, contact information and personnel identities, and that fraudulent messages may contain spelling and grammar errors. |
| Pressure to act quickly or an offer shared only through a social-media message or unfamiliar website | Pause and verify the vacancy independently on the employer's official site. |
A government warning from October 2023 described a fake DPWI advert that used a website name only slightly different from the official one. It sought a purported verification payment and exposed applicants' sensitive personal information. For DPWI vacancies specifically, the department says official website, application links and email addresses end in gov.za, not .org. This is useful evidence for a DPWI advert, but always check the rules published by the particular employer.
Use this check before sending a CV, Z83 form, copy of an ID or any other document. Do not use a phone number, email address or link supplied only in the suspicious message to verify it.
| Step | How to check it |
|---|---|
| 1. Find the employer's official website | Type the department or public body's name into your browser and open its official website. Look for its vacancies or careers page. |
| 2. Check the Public Service Vacancy Circular | For public-service department posts, search the DPSA Public Service Vacancy Circular. The DPSA says the circular is published weekly except during December and contains vacant-post advertisements for Public Service departments. |
| 3. Compare the actual advert | Match the post title, reference number, department, requirements, application destination and closing date with the official advert. If they do not match, do not apply until the advertising department confirms the correct notice. |
| 4. Follow the stated application method | The DPSA directs candidates to send the Z83 form and their training, qualifications, competencies, knowledge and experience details, or a CV where needed, to the department where the vacancy exists. Include the vacancy reference number and make sure it reaches that department by the closing date. |
| 5. Ask the right office | Direct questions about a Circular vacancy to the department that advertised it, not the DPSA. Use contact details found independently on the official department website. |
| 6. Check employer-specific recruitment platforms | Some bodies use dedicated official systems. For example, Stats SA says its HR Database is for short-term contract posts and its e-Recruitment platform is for permanent posts, and applicants should not use another platform. |
A vacancy appearing in an old circular or an old social-media post does not mean it is still open. Check the advert's closing date and any official amendment or withdrawal before applying.
The Department of Employment and Labour's warning was published in June 2024, and the DPWI warning was published in October 2023. They remain useful examples of tactics used in fake recruitment, not proof that any particular advert is genuine or open today.
No. The Department of Employment and Labour says it imposes no fee for job applications. DPWI says it will never ask for payment for any advertised job. A request for payment is a reason to stop and verify the advert independently.
Check the DPSA Public Service Vacancy Circular and the website of the department that is advertising the post. The Circular carries Public Service department vacancies, while the advertising department is responsible for the advert's content and vacancy enquiries.
A WhatsApp message by itself is not verification. Do not use its link or number as your only check. Find the employer's official website yourself, locate the vacancy in the official channel, and compare the details before providing information.
The DPSA says applicants must use form Z83 and provide full particulars of training, qualifications, competencies, knowledge and experience, on a separate sheet if needed or in a CV. Follow the specific advert because it tells you where to send the application and what is required.