If you live in Mpumalanga and you have Matric plus a Code B driver’s licence, a real chance to become a Traffic Officer is open right now. The Basic Traffic Officers Diploma Learnership 2026/2027 pays R5,000 per month for 12 months of training, and the closing date is 23 October 2026. Many applicants lose out every year because of small errors, like a missing reference number or an incomplete CV. Verified updates like this one are published on StudentOffice, and in this article we walk through everything you need to apply correctly the first time.
What Is the Basic Traffic Officers Diploma Learnership 2026/2027?
This is a 12-month training programme run by the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison. You will train at the Mpumalanga Traffic Training College in Mkhuhlu (Calcutta), in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality.
If you complete the programme, you will receive a Diploma in Basic Traffic Officer at NQF Level 4. That is a recognised South African qualification. NQF stands for the National Qualifications Framework, which is the system South Africa uses to grade qualifications.
The programme appears in the Department of Public Service and Administration’s Circular 36 of 2026, Annexure X, Post 36/272. You can check the official recruitment notice to confirm the details yourself.
Here are the key facts at a glance:
- Department: Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison
- Programme: Basic Traffic Officers Diploma Learnership 2026/2027
- Reference Number: DCSSL/05/2026
- Post Number: 36/272
- Monthly stipend: R5,000
- Duration: 12 months
- Training venue: Mpumalanga Traffic Training College, Mkhuhlu (Calcutta), Bushbuckridge
- Qualification: Diploma in Basic Traffic Officer, NQF Level 4
- How to apply: Online only, through the Mpumalanga e-Recruitment system
- Closing date: 23 October 2026
Who Can Apply?
Before you get excited, check this list carefully. This programme has stricter rules than most learnerships, and applicants who miss one requirement are removed.
You must:
- Have a Grade 12 (Matric) certificate.
- Hold at least a Code B driver’s licence.
- Be a South African citizen.
- Have no criminal record.
- Live in Mpumalanga.
- Be medically suitable for strenuous physical activities.
- Meet the required fitness and personal suitability standards.
- Be willing to undergo driving tests.
- Be willing to complete competency assessments.
Two points cause the most confusion, so let us clear them up.
First, your driver’s licence. A learner’s licence is not enough. The Department wants at least a Code B driver’s licence. If you only have a learner’s licence, you do not meet this requirement yet.
Second, age and space. The notice targets youth residing in Mpumalanga, but it does not confirm an exact age limit or how many training places are open. Do not assume you are too old or too young. If you are unsure, phone the Department using the contact numbers at the end of this article.
You also do not need work experience, a university degree or a diploma. Matric is the highest education requirement.
Why Your Code B Driver’s Licence Matters So Much
Driving is a core part of a Traffic Officer’s job. Officers drive official vehicles, respond to incidents and support road traffic operations.
That is why the Department will test your driving during selection. Holding a licence does not mean you will automatically pass. Spend time before the assessments refreshing road signs, traffic rules and safe driving habits.
One more honest note: the notice asks for at least Code B but does not mention any manual or automatic restriction for this intake. Follow exactly what the official notice says. Do not listen to rumours about extra licence conditions.
What You Will Receive During the 12 Months
If selected, you will receive R5,000 per month as a stipend, subject to your contract conditions. This money supports you while you train.
But be clear about what this is. A stipend is not a Traffic Officer salary. You will sign a fixed-term training contract with the Department, not a permanent employment contract.
Also, the notice does not confirm extra money for transport, accommodation or meals. If you live far from Mkhuhlu, think carefully about how you will cover travel and living costs. You can phone the Department and ask about these arrangements before you accept a place.
What You Will Learn
The training is demanding. It combines classroom theory with practical preparation. You can expect to develop skills such as:
- Knowledge of South African road laws and regulations.
- How to direct traffic, respond to road conditions and promote safer road use.
- Lawful enforcement procedures and professional responsibility.
- Clear communication with motorists, colleagues and the public.
- Responsible decision-making, integrity and conduct under pressure.
The Department has not published a detailed module timetable for this intake, so treat these as the areas the occupation generally covers.
How to Apply Step by Step
Applications are online only. You cannot email, post or hand-deliver documents. Follow these steps carefully.
Step 1: Prepare Your CV First
This is where many applicants go wrong. For this programme, you upload a detailed CV at the start. You do not upload your Matric certificate or other documents at this stage. Copies of qualifications and other supporting documents are only requested from shortlisted candidates.
Your CV must include:
- Your full name and contact details.
- Your current residential location.
- Your Matric qualification.
- Your driver’s licence information.
- Your relevant skills and genuine experience.
- At least three contactable references with their contact information.
Good referees include former teachers, supervisors or other suitable people who can speak honestly about your character or experience. Always ask their permission before listing them. This small step protects you if the Department phones them.
Step 2: Create Your Account on the e-Recruitment Portal
Go to the official Mpumalanga e-Recruitment portal. If you have used the system before, sign in with your existing details. If not, follow the instructions to create an account and keep your login details safe.
Step 3: Find the Correct Programme
Search for the Basic Traffic Officers Diploma Learnership 2026/2027 using these details:
- Reference Number: DCSSL/05/2026
- Post Number: 36/272
Double-check that you select the current 2026/2027 intake and not an older recruitment listing.
Step 4: Complete the New Z83 Form
You must complete the new Z83 inside the e-Recruitment system. This is the standard government form used for public service recruitment. Enter your details accurately, including your qualifications and contact information. Do not leave compulsory sections incomplete.
Step 5: Upload Your CV and Check Everything
Upload your detailed CV with your three references. Then review your whole application before you submit:
- Correct programme selected?
- Reference DCSSL/05/2026 entered?
- Z83 fully completed?
- CV uploaded with three contactable references?
- Phone number and email correct?
- All compulsory portal sections completed?
If the portal displays compulsory document fields that seem to conflict with the programme instructions, contact the Department for clarification before you guess or panic. Incorrect or incomplete information can lead to disqualification.
Step 6: Submit Early and Keep Proof
The closing date is 23 October 2026, but the notice does not give a closing hour. Do not wait for the last few hours. Keep any confirmation number or submission receipt the system gives you.
What Happens After You Apply?
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you are shortlisted, you must be ready for the following:
- Providing your qualification certificates and other relevant documents on or before the interview.
- A medical assessment to confirm you can handle strenuous physical activity.
- Driving and competency tests.
- Two pre-entry assessments: a practical exercise to test your suitability, and an integrity assessment focused on ethical conduct.
The Department will also run personnel suitability checks. These cover qualification verification, criminal-record checks, citizenship verification, financial-record checks and driver’s licence verification.
Here is the honest part. If you have not been contacted within three months after the closing date, you should regard your application as unsuccessful. For this intake, that period ends on 23 January 2027. It is disappointing, but knowing this helps you plan. Keep exploring other opportunities while you wait.
Another truth worth accepting: no permanent job is guaranteed. The Department has not promised automatic appointments after training. Your future prospects will depend on recruitment requirements, available positions and further professional conditions. Still, completing recognised traffic-officer training can build skills that open doors in road safety and law-enforcement careers.
Mistakes That Could Disqualify You
Many applicants struggle with the same avoidable errors. Watch out for these seven before 23 October 2026:
- Thinking Matric is the only requirement. You also need at least a Code B driver’s licence and must meet every other condition.
- Using the wrong reference. It is DCSSL/05/2026. One wrong detail can sink your application.
- Leaving out references. Your CV must include at least three contactable referees.
- Ignoring the Z83. It must be completed through the official e-Recruitment system.
- Assuming there is no physical assessment. Medical, driving and competency checks are part of selection.
- Expecting permanent employment. This is a 12-month training contract.
- Trusting unverified links. Scammers target popular learnerships. Use only the official provincial e-Recruitment system, and never share your personal information on unrelated websites or pay anyone to secure you a place.
Also, ignore unofficial claims about exact fitness-test measurements, running distances or pass marks. The notice does not publish these numbers, so anyone claiming to know them is guessing.
Where to Get Help
If you need clarity about eligibility, your driver’s licence or the recruitment process, phone the Department directly. Quote reference DCSSL/05/2026 in every call so your query reaches the right programme.
- Mr G Mnisi: 013 766 4019
- Ms S Masango: 017 811 143
- Ms N Mathebula: 013 766 9152
- Ms A Seku: 013 766 4905
You can also read the official DPSA Circular 36 of 2026 for the full recruitment announcement.
Your Next Step
If you have Matric, a Code B driver’s licence and you live in Mpumalanga, this is a genuine door into traffic law enforcement. Twelve months of paid, structured training at a real traffic college is not something to scroll past.
Start today. Update your CV, confirm your three references, and complete the new Z83 on the official portal well before 23 October 2026. Selection is competitive, and a clean, complete application is what keeps you in the running. Many capable people lose chances like this simply because they applied late or left a field blank. Do not be one of them.