SARS Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership Programme X80 – NQF Level 4 | 12-Month Contract | Apply by 30 September 2026
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is inviting applications for 80 Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership opportunities across South Africa.
The Customs & Excise Operations Cadet Programme runs for 12 months and is designed to provide successful candidates with practical workplace experience while developing skills and knowledge relevant to Customs & Excise operations.
Opportunities are available at 16 locations, including OR Tambo International Airport, Durban Harbour, Lebombo Border Post, Cape Town International Airport and several other airports, border posts, harbours and operational hubs.
Applicants must have at least an NQF Level 4 qualification with Mathematics and/or Accounting, together with 1 year of experience in an administration, logistics or customer-service environment.
Applicants must also be South African citizens aged 18–35 and hold a valid Code B/EB driver’s licence.
Applications close on 30 September 2026.
Programme Overview
Employer: South African Revenue Service (SARS)
Programme: Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership Programme
Number of Opportunities: 80
Requisition ID: 11620
Division: Customs Border Ports of Entry
Reports To: Operations Manager / Customs Manager
Contract: 12 Months
Qualification: NQF Level 4 with Mathematics and/or Accounting
Experience: 1 year in administration, logistics or customer service
Age: 18–35 years
Citizenship: South African
Driver’s Licence: Valid Code B/EB required
Posted: 23 September 2026
Closing Date: 30 September 2026
SARS Customs Cadet Learnership Locations
The 80 opportunities are distributed across 16 locations.
| Location | Positions |
|---|---|
| Alberton, Johannesburg | 1 |
| OR Tambo International Airport | 14 |
| Lanseria International Airport | 3 |
| Doringkloof Hub | 2 |
| Port Elizabeth | 1 |
| Durban Harbour | 10 |
| Durban Hub | 4 |
| Richards Bay Hub | 3 |
| King Shaka International Airport | 1 |
| Groblersbridge Border Post | 1 |
| Beitbridge Border Post | 1 |
| Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport | 1 |
| Oshoek Border Post | 1 |
| Lebombo Border Post | 16 |
| Kopfontein Border Post | 3 |
| Cape Town Harbour | 8 |
| Cape Town International Airport | 10 |
| Total | 80 |
Applicants should note that although the advertisement lists 16 location groupings, Johannesburg includes Alberton and OR Tambo separately in the allocation supplied.
About the SARS Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership
The SARS Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership is a 12-month learning journey intended to build practical experience and develop skills relevant to Customs & Excise operations.
Successful candidates will be expected to complete the SARS Customs Cadet Learnership Programme while gaining workplace exposure and contributing to Customs & Excise operations.
This programme may involve working in operational environments such as:
- Land border posts.
- Airports.
- Seaports.
- Inland operational offices.
- Remote border areas.
Applicants must therefore be willing to work in different Customs operational environments where required.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Applicants must have:
NQF Level 4 with Mathematics and/or Accounting.
The advertisement does not provide a specific minimum percentage for Mathematics or Accounting.
Applicants should therefore provide their actual academic results when requested and avoid assuming an unofficial minimum mark.
Experience Required
Applicants must have:
1 year of experience in an administration, logistics or customer-service environment.
This is listed under SARS’ minimum qualification and experience requirements.
Relevant experience may therefore include genuine previous work involving:
-Administration.
-Logistics.
-Customer service.
Applicants should clearly show relevant experience on their CV.
Age Requirement
Applicants must be:
18–35 years old.
SARS states that this age criterion is intended specifically to attract youth to the programme.
Citizenship Requirement
Applicants must be:
South African citizens.
Driver’s Licence Requirement
Applicants must have a valid:
Code B/EB driver’s licence.
This is listed as a minimum requirement and should not be overlooked when applying.
Working Hours and Operational Requirements
Successful candidates must be willing to work:
- Shifts.
- Weekends.
- Public holidays.
- Overtime.
These working arrangements may be required depending on operational needs.
Applicants should consider this carefully before applying.
National Deployment
Candidates must be willing to be deployed nationally to Customs operational environments.
Possible working environments include:
- Land border posts.
- Remote border areas.
- Airports.
- Seaports.
- Inland operational offices.
Applicants should therefore not assume that selection for a particular advertised location necessarily means they will never be required to work elsewhere.
Security and Integrity Requirements
Applicants must be willing to undergo:
- Security screening.
- Criminal-record checks.
- Qualification verification.
- Integrity assessments.
Successful candidates may also be required to undergo additional pre-employment screening and vetting.
Physical Requirements
Applicants must be:
Physically fit and able to work in an operational environment.
Customs operations can involve working in environments different from a standard office setting.
Computer Requirements
Applicants must be computer literate and proficient in:
Microsoft Office applications.
Relevant computer skills should therefore be clearly listed on your CV.
Customs & Excise Knowledge
SARS states that applicants must have a:
Basic overview of some Customs & Excise environment.
Applicants preparing for recruitment assessments or interviews should therefore familiarise themselves with the basic purpose and functions of Customs & Excise operations.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Administrative Support
Cadets will assist with administrative tasks within the relevant division.
This may include:
- Processing information.
- Maintaining documentation.
- Handling information requests.
- Maintaining records.
- Supporting reporting activities.
2. Use SARS Systems
Successful candidates will be expected to apply and use systems accurately to help ensure efficient completion of assigned tasks.
Accuracy will be important when capturing, processing or reviewing information.
3. Handle Information Requests
Cadets may receive information requests and forward them to the relevant departments to obtain the required information.
Good communication and organisational skills will therefore be important.
4. Communicate Queries and Outputs
Successful candidates will communicate transactional outputs and queries within their area of work.
Information should be communicated accurately and according to applicable procedures.
5. Meet Performance Objectives
Cadets will be expected to deliver on agreed performance objectives according to:
- Established procedures.
- Required response times.
- Agreed service-level standards.
- Quality requirements.
6. Support Organisational Change
Learners should be willing to embrace change initiatives and contribute positively to their successful implementation within their areas of responsibility.
7. Maintain Quality Standards
Successful candidates will be expected to:
- Produce accurate work.
- Minimise mistakes.
- Improve work quality.
- Maintain required standards.
Attention to detail is therefore particularly important.
8. Resolve Basic Queries
Cadets will assist with resolving basic queries according to established procedures and guidelines.
Issues that cannot be resolved should be escalated appropriately.
9. Follow the Learner Activity Manual
Successful applicants must follow the individual learner activity manual applicable to their division or business unit.
This helps ensure that required learning and workplace activities are completed correctly.
10. Analyse Information Requests
Cadets will identify and analyse the type of information being requested before taking the appropriate action.
11. Problem Solving
Successful candidates should be able to:
- Identify problems.
- Apply known solutions.
- Follow procedures.
- Follow guidelines.
- Escalate unresolved problems.
12. Maintain Records
Cadets must keep up-to-date records of completed work.
Good record keeping is particularly important in a regulated operational environment.
13. Plan and Organise Work
Successful candidates will need to plan and organise their own work efficiently to achieve agreed performance objectives.
14. Prepare Reports
Cadets may report on transactional activities and their progress according to established guidelines.
This information can assist with decision-making within the relevant area of accountability.
Client Responsibilities
Successful candidates must understand the service requirements of their jobs and work towards meeting client expectations.
Professional service delivery is therefore an important part of the programme.
Financial Responsibility
SARS expects cadets to perform their work efficiently to help:
- Reduce unnecessary costs.
- Save money.
- Support efficient use of resources.
Governance and Compliance
Cadets must comply with applicable:
- Governance standards.
- Compliance requirements.
- Procedures.
- Policies.
Problems should be escalated for investigation and resolution when required.
Learning and Development
Learners are expected to take responsibility for their own development.
This includes:
- Asking for support when required.
- Requesting training where necessary.
- Assessing their own performance.
- Seeking feedback.
- Improving the quality of their work.
- Working towards required performance standards.
Teamwork
Successful candidates will interact positively with groups and teams as required.
The ability to work professionally with other people will therefore be important.
Behavioural Competencies
SARS lists the following behavioural competencies:
- Accountability.
- Commitment to continuous learning.
- Conceptual ability.
- Expertise in context.
- Organisational awareness.
- Fairness and transparency.
- Honesty and integrity.
- Trust.
- Respect.
- Attention to detail.
- Analytical thinking.
Technical Competencies
Applicants should be prepared to develop or demonstrate competencies relating to:
- Administrative support.
- Business knowledge.
- Data collection and analysis.
- Efficiency improvement.
- Functional policies and procedures.
- Records and archive management.
- Reporting.
- Service delivery.
- Standard Operating Procedure compliance.
- Customs systems and products.
Confidentiality
Customs and tax-related environments may involve access to sensitive information.
The vacancy specifically refers to GOC Confidential information, which can include sensitive information where unlawful disclosure could harm national interests, international relations or commercial interests.
Successful candidates must therefore treat confidential information appropriately and comply with SARS requirements.