Department Description
SCHOOL OF ANIMAL, PLANT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
PULLEN NATURE RESERVE, MPUMALANGA
GENERAL WORKER AD.17
About Pullen Nature Reserve
Pullen Nature Reserve is a research and teaching facility located in the Savanna Biome of Mpumalanga, 35 km south-east of Mbombela in the Krokodilpoortberge. The facility serves the University’s School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences (APES) and provides accommodation and support for field courses, research activities, and educational programs.
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The Position
We are seeking a reliable and hardworking General Worker to join our small team at Pullen Nature Reserve. This is a hands-on position working mainly outdoors to maintain the facility’s buildings, roads, and natural veld areas.Brief Description
- Grade 12 (Matric) or equivalent NQF level/N4
- At least 2 years’ experience in general labour, farm work, or similar
- Experience with bush clearing and outdoor maintenance work
- Basic building maintenance experience
Desirable Requirements
- Experience with controlled burning operations
- Experience working on a nature reserve or farm
- Knowledge of local plants (especially invasive species)
- Chainsaw/tractor operation experience
- First Aid Level 1
Other Requirements
- Must be willing to live on-site at Pullen Nature Reserve
- Willing to work weekends and public holidays when required
- Valid driving license
- IT competence to receive and send emails and to apply for leave online
- Basic writing and numeracy skills
Key Responsibilities
Bush and Veld Management:
- Clear bushes and remove invasive alien plants
- Assist with controlled burning operations
- Maintain firebreaks and cleared areas
- Stack and remove cut vegetation
- Basic veld maintenance tasks
Road and Infrastructure Maintenance:
- Maintain internal roads (filling potholes, clearing drainage, grading, mowing)
- Clear vegetation along roads and pathways
- Maintain fences (repairs, vegetation clearing)
- Keep facility grounds neat
Vehicle and Machinery Operation and Maintenance:
- Operate vehicles and machinery such as mowers, tractors and welding machines
- Carry out regular Assessments and Maintenance of Vehicles and Machinery
Building and Facility Maintenance and small developments:
- Basic building maintenance (painting, minor repairs)
- Maintain water systems (checking tanks, clearing gutters)
- General cleaning and upkeep of external areas
- Assist with the maintenance of accommodation facilities
- Rubbish removal and waste management
- Undertake small building projects
General Duties:
- Assist the Field Station Manager with various maintenance tasks
- Help prepare facilities for visiting groups
- Operate and maintain basic tools and equipment
- Report maintenance issues and equipment problems
- Follow health and safety procedures
- Any other reasonable duties as required
- Assist with Conservancy tasks as directed by the Field Station Manager
Working Conditions
- Live-in position at Pullen Field Station, Mpumalanga (on-site accommodation provided)
- Heavy manual labour, lifting, digging, clearing, working in hot conditions
- Occasional weekend work when field courses are hosted or when otherwise required for a total of 22 working days a month — on and off arrangements to be negotiated with Field Station Manager
- Must follow all safety procedures; safety equipment will be provided
Detailed DescriptionJob RequirementsAdditional DetailsHow To Apply
To apply: Only applicants who meet the minimum requirements should apply by submitting their cover letter, detailed CV, certified copies of all educational qualifications and identity document with names and e-mail addresses of 3 referees. It is the applicant’s responsibility to have foreign qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
External applicants are invited to apply by registering their profile on the Wits i-Recruitment platform located at https://irec.wits.ac.za and submitting applications. Internal applicants are invited to apply directly on Oracle by following the path: iWits /Self Service Applications /” Apply for a job”.
Closing date: 31 December 2025