Cleaner Job 2026 – Department of Defence | Government | R138 486 | Apply Now

Department of Defence Hiring Now | Cleaner Jobs Port Elizabeth | Government Cleaner AFS PE Gqeberha | SANDF Cleaning Vacancy Eastern Cape 2026

The Department of Defence, via Air Force Station Port Elizabeth (AFS PE) in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape, is recruiting a Cleaner at salary Level 02 — offering a permanent government salary of R138 486 per annum. This entry-level permanent government post requires a minimum ABET qualification and no prior experience — making it one of the most accessible pathways into permanent government employment currently available in Gqeberha. The successful candidate will maintain offices and facilities at AFS PE to a high standard of cleanliness — sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, polishing, cleaning ablutions, and operating basic cleaning machinery as directed.

Cleaner Job Overview – Department of Defence, AFS PE

Detail	Information
Job Title	Cleaner
Post Reference	AFSPE/02/08/26/03
Post Number	POST 09/42
Department	Department of Defence
Station	Air Force Station Port Elizabeth (AFS PE)
Salary	R138 486 per annum (Level 02)
Job Type	Permanent — Government
Qualification	ABET (minimum) — no Grade 12 required
Experience	None required
Location	Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape
Enquiries	Maj F.G. Fatyi — Tel: (041) 505 1463
Application Status	✅ Open – Apply Now

About Air Force Station Port Elizabeth

Air Force Station Port Elizabeth (AFS PE) is a South African Air Force installation located in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape — part of the Army Support Base Eastern Cape infrastructure. The station maintains active administrative and operational support functions across its facilities — and the Cleaner is an essential member of the support team, ensuring that all offices, ablution facilities, and common areas are maintained in a clean, hygienic, and professionally presented condition that supports the wellbeing and productivity of station personnel.

AFS PE currently has two posts published on this site — the Administration Clerk: Production (Level 05, Grade 12) and this Cleaner (Level 02, ABET) — making it the only Eastern Cape SAAF installation with multiple simultaneous vacancies in the current DOD batch.

Purpose of the Role

The Cleaner is responsible for performing cleaning-related duties across offices and other facilities at AFS PE — maintaining all work areas, ablution facilities, and common spaces to the standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and presentation required by the base — and reporting any workplace defects to the immediate supervisor.

Key Responsibilities – Cleaner

Office & Facility Cleaning

Perform all cleaning duties in offices and other facilities as determined by the supervisor — including sweeping floors, vacuuming carpets and soft furnishings, cleaning windows, dusting all surfaces, and polishing furniture and floors.
Apply a high standard of cleanliness and hygiene throughout all assigned areas — ensuring that every office and facility is maintained in a condition that supports a professional, healthy, and productive working environment for station personnel.
Operate cleaning machines at a basic level — using vacuum cleaners, floor polishers, and other cleaning equipment correctly and safely.

Ablution Facility Cleaning

Clean ablution facilities — maintaining all bathrooms, toilets, and washrooms at AFS PE to a high standard of hygiene and presentation throughout the working day.
Ensure that ablution facilities are adequately stocked with hygiene consumables — reporting shortages to the supervisor.

Defect Reporting

Report any defects in the workplace to the immediate supervisor — including broken fittings, damaged surfaces, plumbing issues, electrical concerns, or any other maintenance requirements observed during cleaning duties.

Equipment & Machinery Operation

Apply knowledge of basic hand tools and cleaning equipment — using all assigned cleaning tools correctly and maintaining them in good working order.
Operate cleaning machines with a low level of complexity — applying basic machinery knowledge to floor polishers, vacuum cleaners, and other cleaning equipment used at the station.

Minimum Requirements – Cleaner

Qualifications

ABET qualification (minimum) — essential
Grade 12 is not required
No prior experience required

Skills & Knowledge

Ability to communicate effectively in English (verbal) — essential
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 Cleaner at AFS PE?

No Experience & ABET Only — A genuine permanent government appointment requiring only ABET qualification and basic English communication ability — one of the most accessible entry-level government posts available in Gqeberha in 2026
Permanent Government Employment — Full GEPF pension fund, government medical aid subsidy, structured annual and sick leave, and transparent salary progression through Level 02 — long-term financial security that private sector cleaning and domestic work cannot provide
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) — Eastern Cape Hub — Work in one of South Africa’s most significant coastal cities — the Eastern Cape’s largest urban centre, with a strong public sector employment base and good community infrastructure
Foundation for Government Career Growth — Government cleaners with permanent DPSA appointments can progress through the salary levels, develop additional skills, and advance into facilities supervisory, stores, and administrative roles over time — building a structured public sector career from this accessible entry point

Career Growth Path – Government Facilities & Support Services

Cleaner (Level 02) → Senior Cleaner (Level 03)
Senior Cleaner → Cleaning Supervisor (Level 04)
Cleaning Supervisor → Facilities Support Officer (Level 05)
Facilities Officer → Assistant Director — Facilities Management

Frequently Asked Questions – Government Cleaner Jobs South Africa

Is a permanent government Cleaner post different from a private sector cleaning job? Yes — significantly. A permanent DPSA government Cleaner appointment provides full job security, GEPF pension fund membership, government medical aid subsidy, structured leave entitlements, and annual salary notch progression — benefits that private sector cleaning companies and labour brokers rarely provide to cleaning staff. A permanent government Cleaner post is one of the most financially stable employment outcomes available to ABET-qualified adults in South Africa, offering long-term security that far exceeds the typical contract or casual cleaning arrangements in the private sector.

What cleaning equipment and machines will I operate? The Cleaner at AFS PE will use standard commercial cleaning equipment — including vacuum cleaners, floor mops and buckets, floor polishing machines, window cleaning equipment (squeegees, cloths, cleaning solutions), dusting tools, and ablution cleaning equipment (brushes, mops, hygiene products). All equipment will be provided by the station, and basic operational training will be given on appointment.

What does “reporting defects to the supervisor” involve? During the daily cleaning rounds, the Cleaner may notice maintenance issues — a broken window latch, a leaking tap, a cracked floor tile, a faulty light fitting, or a damaged door. Reporting these defects to the immediate supervisor promptly ensures that maintenance issues are addressed before they become safety hazards or larger repair problems. This is a standard duty for government cleaning staff and forms part of the broader facilities management function.

Does this post require Afrikaans or isiXhosa proficiency? English verbal communication is the only stated language requirement. Gqeberha is a linguistically diverse city — with isiXhosa as the most widely spoken home language and Afrikaans having significant professional presence. While additional language ability is not required, it is a practical advantage for daily workplace communication in the Eastern Cape environment.

AFS PE also has an Administration Clerk post — can I apply for both? Yes — AFS PE currently has two posts in this batch: Administration Clerk: Production (Ref: AFSPE/02/08/26/01, Level 05, Grade 12 required) and this Cleaner (Ref: AFSPE/02/08/26/03, Level 02, ABET). Candidates who meet the qualifications for both may apply for each separately using the same application address and enquiries contact. Reference numbers must be quoted correctly on each application.

⚠️ How to Apply

Submit your application quoting reference AFSPE/02/08/26/03 via one of the following channels:

Email: afspehr@dod.mil.co.za
Post: Department of Defence, Air Force Station Port Elizabeth, Army Support Base Eastern Cape, Willow Drive, Gqeberha, 6013
Hand delivery: Forest Hill Drive, Southdene, Port Elizabeth

Enquiries: Maj F.G. Fatyi — Tel: (041) 505 1463

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Post last updated: March 2026 | Keywords: cleaner jobs Port Elizabeth 2026, Department of Defence vacancy Eastern Cape, government cleaner AFS PE Gqeberha, ABET government jobs Eastern Cape no experience, SANDF cleaner vacancy Gqeberha, DoD jobs 2026, permanent cleaner job Eastern Cape government, government Level 02 cleaning jobs Port Elizabeth, AFS PE cleaner vacancy 2026, government support jobs Gqeberha 2026

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