Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS)
In the Free State, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) manages key water resources including the Vaal River, Gariep Dam, Vanderkloof Dam and Sterkfontein Dam critical for national water supply and irrigation. Focus areas include dam safety, water transfer schemes, agricultural water use and pollution control in mining areas.
Popular city-level listings include:
- Bloemfontein (e.g., water quality monitoring, Vaal River compliance)
- Welkom (e.g., mine water reclamation, acid mine drainage)
- Bethlehem (e.g., Liebenbergsvlei River catchment management)
This guide provides an overview of DWS careers in Free State, popular city-level listings, latest job opportunities, salaries, benefits, qualifications, and how to apply.
Latest Job Opportunities in Department of Water and Sanitation Free State
As of 2025, DWS has several openings in the Free State, primarily in Bloemfontein and Welkom. Based on the latest listings from the official careers portal and job boards:
Administrative Clerk (Bloemfontein)
- Description: Supports water use licensing, compliance, and regional admin.
- Location: Bloemfontein Regional Office.
Engineering Technician (Welkom)
- Description: Assists with mine water treatment plants and pipeline monitoring.
- Location: Welkom (Goldfields area).
General Worker (Bethlehem)
- Description: Supports dam maintenance, river clearing, and irrigation scheme fieldwork.
- Location: Eastern Free State District.
Data Capturer (Bloemfontein)
- Description: Inputs water quality, flow, and dam level data for Vaal system.
- Location: Bloemfontein DWS Depot.
For the most current listings, visit www.dws.gov.za/careers.
Salary and Employee Benefits at DWS in Free State
Salaries at DWS in the Free State for entry-level roles like General Worker start at ZAR 8,700–11,800/month (ZAR 104,400–141,600/year). Technical roles earn ZAR 19,000–29,500/month.
| Job Type | Average Monthly Salary (ZAR) |
|---|---|
| General Worker | 8,700–11,800 |
| Administrative Clerk | 11,300–15,300 |
| Data Capturer | 10,600–14,600 |
| Engineering Technician | 19,000–29,500 |
Benefits:
- Government pension fund (GEPF)
- Medical aid (GEMS contribution)
- Housing allowance
- 13th cheque
- Rural & mining danger allowances
- Training & bursaries (water sector NQF programs)
Qualifications and Skills Required to Work at DWS Free State
DWS offers on-the-job training, especially for General Workers in dam and river operations.
- Education and Qualifications:
- General Worker: Grade 10; Grade 12 preferred.
- Administrative Clerk: Grade 12 + diploma in office administration.
- Data Capturer: Grade 12 + computer literacy certificate.
- Engineering Technician: N3/N4 in Civil/Mechanical Engineering.
- Experience:
- General Worker: No experience required — full training provided.
- Administrative Clerk: 1–2 years admin preferred.
- Data Capturer: 1 year data entry.
- Engineering Technician: 2–3 years in water/mining infrastructure.
How to Apply for Department of Water and Sanitation Jobs in Free State
Apply securely and officially:
DWS Careers Portal (Primary Channel):
- Visit www.dws.gov.za/careers
- Select Free State region
- Download Z83 form + attach CV & documents
- Email to: fs.recruitment@dws.gov.za (quote reference number)
Hand Delivery:
- Bloemfontein Regional Office: 173 Nelson Mandela Dr, Brandwag
- Welkom Sub-Office: Stateway, Welkom Central
Online Job Portals (Verify via DWS site):
- PNet / Indeed / Careers24: Search “DWS Free State general worker”
- JobServiceHub: Lists DWS FS vacancies
- Follow: @DWS_FS on X for alerts
Note: Applications are FREE. Beware of scams. Only use official DWS channels.