DPSA Circular 33 of 2026 was issued on 11 September 2026 and carries public service vacancies from 14 national departments and six provincial administrations, across 217 pages. Most of the posts in it close on 28 or 30 September 2026.
The circular is published by the Department of Public Service and Administration, weekly except in December. It is the official list. The department states plainly that it is not responsible for the content of the advertisements and that enquiries must go to the department advertising the post, not to the DPSA.
What is in Circular 33
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| National departments | Agriculture, Defence, Employment and Labour, Government Technical Advisory Centre, Higher Education and Training, Home Affairs, Land Reform and Rural Development, Office of the Chief Justice, South African Police Service, Tourism, Transport, Treasury, Water and Sanitation, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities |
| Provincial administrations | Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West, Western Cape |
The biggest sections are KwaZulu-Natal at 53 pages, Western Cape at 36 pages and Higher Education and Training at 29 pages. Each section is a separate PDF on the DPSA site, so you do not have to download all 217 pages to find posts in your province.
Closing dates
Closing dates are set by each advertising department, not by the DPSA, and they differ within the same circular.
| Department | Closing date in Circular 33 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | 28 September 2026 at 16:00 |
| Defence | 28 September 2026 at 16:00 |
| Employment and Labour | 28 September 2026, 16:00 for walk-in and 23:59 online |
| Government Technical Advisory Centre | 28 September 2026 at 12:00 |
| Higher Education and Training posts listed | 30 September 2026 |
Check the date printed on the advert you are applying for. Late applications are not considered, and departments say so in writing.
The Z83 is where most applications die
Applications must be on form Z83, and it must be the version that took effect on 1 January 2021. The Department of Employment and Labour states in this circular that applications on the old form will not be considered. You can get the form from any public service department office, from www.gov.za/documents, or from the DPSA website.
What the circular requires:
- Quote the reference number of the post. A missing or wrong reference is a disqualification.
- Complete sections A, B, C and D of the Z83 in full. For sections E, F and G it is acceptable to refer to your CV, but the question in Part F about conditions preventing re-appointment must still be answered, and the declaration must be signed and dated.
- Attach an updated, detailed CV. That is all that is required at application stage.
- Do not send certified copies now. Only shortlisted candidates submit certified copies of qualifications and identity documents, on or before the day of the interview.
- Foreign qualifications need a South African Qualifications Authority evaluation report, required when you are shortlisted.
- One application per post. Applying for three posts means three separate Z83 forms, sent separately. Duplicate applications for the same post are rejected.
Several departments in this circular warn that false or fraudulent qualifications will be reported to the South African Police Service and a criminal case opened, under section 32B(3) of the National Qualifications Framework Act.
What happens after you apply
Shortlisted candidates write two pre-entry assessments: a practical exercise linked to the technical requirements of the post, and an integrity or ethical conduct assessment. For senior management posts there is also a technical exercise, after which up to three candidates go for psychometric assessment.
Everyone shortlisted is subject to personnel suitability checks. These cover criminal record, citizenship, qualification and employment verification, and several departments now state that social media profiles are checked. A police clearance certificate is not something you attach to the application, but the criminal record check happens later in the process.
Senior Management Service appointments require the Nyukela pre-entry certificate from the National School of Government, at the applicant’s own cost. You need proof of registration and completion before appointment, not before applying.
Silence is normal. Departments in this circular set different feedback periods, from eight weeks to six months. If nobody contacts you in that window, the application was unsuccessful.
What the posts pay
Salaries in the circular are on the public service salary levels. A sample from Circular 33:
| Level | Annual salary in this circular |
|---|---|
| Level 07 | R338 106 |
| Level 09 | R487 197 |
| Level 10 | R605 742 |
| Level 11 | R932 292 |
| Level 13 | R1 317 384, all-inclusive package |
| Level 14 | R1 554 696, all-inclusive package |
| Level 15 | R1 885 710, all-inclusive package |
Contract posts often carry an extra 37% in lieu of benefits. That is cash instead of pension and medical aid contributions, not a bonus.
If you are appointed, the department must give you written particulars of employment. What has to be in that document is set out in the employment contract requirements. If you are currently between jobs, see how to claim UIF online while you apply.
Where to check
The circular and its separate departmental PDFs are published at www.dpsa.gov.za under Newsroom, Public service vacancy circular. The DPSA also runs a WhatsApp channel that posts each new circular. The Z83 form is on www.gov.za/documents. No department charges a fee to apply for a public service post, and no recruiter can place you in one.
