Department of Defence Hiring Now | Groundsman Jobs Makhado | 14 Positions Available | Government Grounds & Gardening Vacancy Limpopo 2026
The Department of Defence, via Air Force Base (AFB) Makhado in Limpopo, is recruiting fourteen (14) Groundsmen at salary Level 02 — offering a permanent government salary of R138 486 per annum. With fourteen positions available simultaneously, this is the largest single post in the entire current DOD batch — and the most significant community employment opportunity currently available in Makhado and the Soutpansberg region. A minimum ABET qualification is all that is required — no Grade 12, no experience — making this accessible to the widest possible applicant pool in the greater Limpopo community.
Combined with eight Food Service Aid posts and ten Store Assistant posts in the same batch, AFB Makhado is currently offering thirty-two permanent Level 02 government positions — an extraordinary and unprecedented community employment event in Limpopo.
🌿 Government | 14 Posts Available | ABET Only | No Experience | AFB Makhado Limpopo | R138 486 p.a. | Ref: AFBMKD/02/08/26/09 | Apply Now.
Groundsman Job Overview – Department of Defence, AFB Makhado
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Groundsman |
| Post Reference | AFBMKD/02/08/26/09 |
| Positions Available | 14 (X14 Posts) |
| Department | Department of Defence |
| Base | Air Force Base Makhado, Limpopo |
| Salary | R138 486 per annum (Level 02) |
| Job Type | Permanent — Government |
| Qualification | ABET (minimum) — no Grade 12 required |
| Experience | None required |
| Location | AFB Makhado / Louis Trichardt, Limpopo |
| Enquiries | Lt G.P. Mophuthing / Sgt Masilo — Tel: (015) 577 2006 / 2007 |
| Application Status | ✅ Open – Apply Now |
About Air Force Base Makhado
Air Force Base Makhado — near Makhado (Louis Trichardt) beneath the Soutpansberg Mountains — is one of the South African Air Force’s most operationally significant northern installations. The base occupies a substantial land area and maintains extensive grounds, gardens, lawns, and terrain that must be kept in professional condition year-round to support both operational readiness and the welfare of hundreds of base personnel. The Groundsman team is essential to the pride, presentation, and environmental quality of AFB Makhado — and with fourteen posts now open, the base is building its largest grounds maintenance team in years.
Purpose of the Role
The Groundsman is responsible for the cultivation, maintenance, and presentation of all garden areas, lawns, flower beds, and terrain at AFB Makhado — including soil preparation, planting, fertilising, irrigating, weeding, pruning, mowing, edge-cutting, refuse removal, and the loading and unloading of grounds-related articles and equipment — maintaining the neatness and presentation of all unit areas to the standard required by the base.
Key Responsibilities – Groundsman
Garden Cultivation & Planting
- Cultivate garden areas across AFB Makhado — preparing and maintaining all designated garden spaces to a high standard of presentation.
- Prepare soil for the planting of plants — turning, enriching, and conditioning soil to create productive planting beds across the base.
- Maintain flower beds and other garden beds by fertilising, irrigating, weeding, and pruning — applying regular, systematic horticultural care to all planted areas.
Lawn Maintenance
- Mow lawns across the base using appropriate mowing machinery — maintaining all grass areas at the correct height and in a neat, even condition.
- Cut edges along all lawn borders, paths, and paved areas — ensuring clean, professionally finished lawn edges throughout the base.
- Irrigate lawns — applying water to all lawn and garden areas at the correct times and in the correct quantities to maintain healthy growth.
Refuse Removal & Terrain Maintenance
- Remove refuse from the terrain — collecting and clearing all waste material from grounds areas across the base.
- Load refuse onto the truck for transportation to refuse dumps or burn refuse as directed — ensuring all waste is correctly disposed of in accordance with base environmental and hygiene procedures.
- Maintain the neatness of all unit areas — ensuring that every section of the base grounds for which the Groundsman team is responsible is kept clean, tidy, and presentable at all times.
Equipment & Machinery Operation
- Load and unload various articles and equipment needed on the grounds — supporting the logistical movement of horticultural and grounds maintenance equipment across the base.
- Operate cleaning machines and basic grounds maintenance machinery — applying knowledge of machinery operation and basic hand tools to complete all grounds tasks safely and effectively.
- Apply knowledge of health and safety in all grounds and machinery activities — preventing accidents, equipment damage, and environmental harm.
Minimum Requirements – Groundsman
Qualifications
- ABET qualification (minimum) — essential
- Grade 12 is not required
- No prior experience required
Skills & Knowledge
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Good interpersonal skills
- Knowledge of health and safety
- Knowledge of basic maintenance of machinery with low level of complexity
- Knowledge of basic hand tools and cleaning equipment
- Ability to operate cleaning machines
- Ability to perform routine tasks
- Ability to work in a team and individually
Why Join the Department of Defence as Groundsman at AFB Makhado?
- 14 Posts — The Largest Single DOD Vacancy in This Batch — Fourteen simultaneous permanent government appointments means fourteen candidates will be selected from the same applicant pool — providing a realistically strong probability of appointment for qualified, motivated candidates in the Makhado community
- 32 Permanent Level 02 Posts at AFB Makhado — Combined with Food Service Aid (x8) and Store Assistant (x10), AFB Makhado is offering thirty-two permanent Level 02 government posts simultaneously — representing one of the largest single-base community employment events in Limpopo’s recent history
- ABET Only — No Grade 12 Required — Genuinely accessible to adults who did not complete secondary schooling — one of South Africa’s very few permanent government posts with an ABET minimum
- Permanent Government Employment — GEPF pension fund, government medical aid subsidy, structured leave, and annual salary progression — providing the long-term financial stability that contract or seasonal groundskeeping work cannot offer
- Outdoor Work in the Soutpansberg — Work in one of South Africa’s most beautiful natural environments — the Soutpansberg Mountain range provides a spectacular backdrop and a healthy, active outdoor working environment year-round
Career Growth Path – Government Grounds & Facilities
- Groundsman (Level 02) → Senior Groundsman (Level 03)
- Senior Groundsman → Grounds Supervisor (Level 04)
- Grounds Supervisor → Facilities Maintenance Officer (Level 05)
- Facilities Officer → Assistant Director — Facilities Management
Frequently Asked Questions – Groundsman Government Jobs South Africa
What machinery and tools will I operate as a Groundsman at a military base? AFB Makhado’s Groundsman team uses a range of horticultural and grounds maintenance equipment — including ride-on and push mowers, edge cutters (strimmers/whipper-snippers), hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, wheelbarrows, hand tools (spades, forks, rakes, hoes), irrigation systems, and refuse loading equipment. Basic machinery operation training will be provided on appointment. The vacancy requires knowledge of machinery with a “low level of complexity” — meaning no heavy plant or specialised engineering equipment.
What health and safety requirements apply to grounds maintenance work? Grounds maintenance in a DOD environment is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and DOD-specific safety standards. Key safety requirements include correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when operating machinery, safe handling of fertilisers and pesticides, correct manual handling techniques when loading and unloading equipment, and awareness of electrical hazards near underground services. The Groundsman must apply these safety principles in all daily activities.
Is this an outdoor role in all weather conditions? Yes — the Groundsman role is primarily outdoor and physical. The Limpopo climate means working through hot summer conditions, occasional rain, and the mild Soutpansberg winter. The DOD provides appropriate PPE and work clothing. Candidates should be physically fit, comfortable working outdoors year-round, and able to perform routine physical tasks throughout the working day.
How does this post differ from the Food Service Aid and Store Assistant posts at AFB Makhado? All three are Level 02, ABET-qualified, no-experience permanent government posts at AFB Makhado — but in completely different work environments: Food Service Aids work indoors in the kitchen and dining hall; Store Assistants work indoors in the base stores facility; Groundsmen work outdoors across the base grounds, gardens, and terrain. Candidates who prefer outdoor physical work should apply for the Groundsman post; those preferring indoor environments should consider Food Service Aid or Store Assistant.
With 32 Level 02 posts at AFB Makhado, can I apply for more than one? Yes — candidates may apply for multiple posts in the same recruitment batch, provided they meet the requirements for each. Submit a separate application — with the correct reference number — for each post you wish to be considered for. All three Level 02 posts share the same application address (afbmkdhr@dod.mil.za or Private Bag X2010, Makhado) and enquiries contact (Lt G.P. Mophuthing / Sgt Masilo at (015) 577 2006 / 2007).
⚠️ How to Apply
Submit your application quoting reference AFBMKD/02/08/26/09 via one of the following channels:
- Email: afbmkdhr@dod.mil.za
- Post: Department of Defence, Air Force Base Makhado, Private Bag X2010, Makhado, 0920
- Hand delivery: Braambos Military Base, AFB Makhado, Louis Trichardt
Enquiries: Lt G.P. Mophuthing / Sgt Masilo — Tel: (015) 577 2006 / 2007
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Post last updated: March 2026 | Keywords: groundsman jobs Makhado 2026, Department of Defence vacancy Limpopo, government groundsman AFB Makhado, ABET qualified government jobs Limpopo, no experience government grounds jobs 2026, DoD jobs 2026, 14 groundsman posts government Limpopo, garden maintenance government permanent Limpopo, AFB Makhado groundsman vacancy 2026, government Level 02 outdoor jobs Limpopo 2026
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