ALPLA is hiring an unemployed young person (18‑34) for its Mechanical or Electrical Maintenance Technician YES Programme in Durban North. The contract runs for 9 to 12 months, pays a market‑related salary and is aimed at technicians who already have an engineering qualification, four years of manufacturing experience and three years of supervisory experience.
What the opportunity is
This is a fixed‑term role (reference AP‑24) that will place you in a busy manufacturing plant. You will work as a Maintenance Technician – either mechanical or electrical – supporting production equipment, plant utilities and infrastructure projects. The position is classified at a student or graduate level, but it expects senior‑level technical skills.
Who can apply
- Age between 18 and 34 years
- Unemployed at the time of application
- Never taken part in a YES Programme before
- At least Grade 12
- Qualification in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent)
- Minimum four (4) years of experience in a manufacturing environment
- Minimum three (3) years of supervisory experience
- Good command of English and a local language
What you gain
- Hands‑on work with electrical services, preventative maintenance and breakdown repairs
- Experience maintaining plant utilities such as compressors, chillers, cooling systems, water‑treatment plants, power‑distribution networks and generators
- Opportunity to lead a maintenance team and manage external contractors
- Exposure to health, safety, food‑safety and environmental compliance
- Market‑related salary and a solid reference for future jobs
How to apply – step by step
- Gather your documents: updated CV, proof of Grade 12, engineering qualification certificates and a full employment history showing the required manufacturing and supervisory roles.
- Visit the official online application portal.
- Enter the reference number AP‑24 when prompted.
- Complete the online questionnaire, attaching your CV and certificates.
- Submit the application. There is no listed closing date, so apply as soon as possible.
Tips to improve your chances
- Place your manufacturing and supervisory experience at the top of your CV.
- List the specific machinery, utilities and projects you have worked on (e.g., compressors, chillers, production lines).
- Use action words such as “led”, “co‑ordinated”, “maintained” to show responsibility.
- Highlight any health‑ and safety training or certifications.
- Proofread for spelling and grammar – clear English is a must.
Next steps
This YES Programme is unusual because it blends youth‑employment eligibility with senior technical requirements. If you meet the age, unemployment and experience criteria, prepare your documents now and submit your application through the portal. Showing your four years of manufacturing work and three years of team supervision right up front will give you the best chance of success.