SARS Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership 2026: X80 Positions Available Now

South African Revenue Service (SARS) is recruiting for a Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership Programme with 80 advertised positions for eligible South African citizens. The programme is structured as a 12-month contract and involves practical exposure to Customs and Excise operations at locations including airports, harbours, border posts, hubs and inland offices.

According to the vacancy information supplied for this article, applications close on 29 September 2026. Applicants must meet several requirements, including NQF Level 4 with Mathematics and/or Accounting, at least one year of relevant experience and a valid Code B or EB driver’s licence.

SARS Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership 2026: What You Need to Know

The Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership is designed around practical workplace exposure in SARS Customs operational environments.

The advertised opportunity is associated with Requisition ID 11620 and covers placements across several operational locations in South Africa.

SARS’s official careers information confirms that the organisation offers development opportunities including learnerships, internships and other youth-focused programmes.

Opportunity Details

Detail	Information
Organisation	South African Revenue Service (SARS)
Programme	Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership Programme
Requisition ID	11620
Contract duration	12 months
Number of positions	80
Programme area	Customs Border Ports of Entry
Age requirement	18–35 years
Minimum qualification	NQF Level 4 with Mathematics and/or Accounting
Experience	At least 1 year in administration, logistics or customer service
Citizenship	South African citizen
Driver’s licence	Valid Code B or EB
Closing date	29 September 2026
Application method	Online through the SARS recruitment process

Who Can Apply?

The advertised requirements indicate that candidates should meet the following criteria:

• Be a South African citizen.
• Be between 18 and 35 years old.
• Hold NQF Level 4 with Mathematics and/or Accounting.
• Have at least one year of experience in an administration, logistics or customer service environment.
• Hold a valid Code B or EB driver’s licence.
• Be willing to work in an operational environment.
• Be prepared to work shifts, weekends, public holidays and overtime when required by operational needs.
• Be willing to be deployed nationally.
• Be prepared to work at airports, seaports, land border posts, hubs and inland operational offices.
• Meet the relevant screening, verification and assessment requirements.

Applicant advice: The national deployment requirement is particularly important. Applicants should consider whether they can reasonably accept a placement outside their current area before submitting an application.

Where Are the SARS Customs Cadet Positions Located?

The vacancy information supplied for the programme lists 80 positions across several Customs operational locations.

The advertised distribution is:

• Johannesburg – Alberton: 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

This means applicants should not assume that the opportunity is limited to major city offices. The vacancy information specifically indicates that candidates may be deployed to remote land border posts as well as airports, seaports and inland operational locations.

What Does the Customs & Excise Cadet Programme Involve?

The programme combines workplace learning with practical Customs and Excise-related duties.

Cadets may be required to assist with administrative and operational activities while following SARS procedures, service standards and governance requirements.

The listed responsibilities include:

• Processing information accurately using relevant systems.
• Supporting administrative activities in the assigned division.
• Responding to information requests and directing queries to the appropriate department.
• Communicating transactional outputs and queries.
• Working towards agreed performance and service requirements.
• Supporting change initiatives.
• Maintaining accurate records.
• Identifying and resolving basic queries within established procedures.
• Escalating matters that cannot be resolved at the applicable level.
• Planning and organising assigned work.
• Reporting on activities and progress.
• Identifying and analysing information requests.
• Applying established procedures to solve known problems.

The role therefore combines administration, customer service, information handling, operational support and compliance.

Customer Service and Confidentiality

The advertised role also places emphasis on professional service and the appropriate handling of information.

Cadets are expected to understand service requirements, communicate professionally and follow the procedures applicable to their assigned work area.

Confidentiality is also important. The vacancy identifies requirements relating to governance and confidential information, including information that may involve taxpayer, commercial or national-security interests.

SARS’s published recruitment terms state that appointments are subject to relevant checks, including pre-employment screening, vetting and integrity assurance testing.

What Screening Can Applicants Expect?

The vacancy information indicates that successful candidates may be required to complete several recruitment and assessment processes.

These include:

• Oath of secrecy.
• Pre-employment screening.
• Case study.
• Pre-assessment.
• Psychometric assessment and/or vetting.
• Declaration of private interest.
• Reference checks.
• Security clearance where applicable.
• Criminal record checks.
• Qualification verification.
• Integrity assessments.

Applicants should therefore make sure that the information provided during recruitment is accurate and consistent with their supporting information.

What Skills and Competencies Are Listed?

The advertised position identifies several behavioural competencies, including:

• Accountability.
• Continuous learning.
• Organisational awareness.
• Fairness and transparency.
• Honesty and integrity.
• Trust.
• Respect.
• Attention to detail.
• Analytical thinking.
• Conceptual ability.

Technical areas include administrative support, data collection and analysis, records management, reporting, service delivery, standard operating procedure compliance and Customs systems and products.

These areas reflect the operational and administrative nature of the programme.

What Should Applicants Check Before Applying?

Before starting the application, applicants should carefully compare their own circumstances with the advertised requirements.

Official requirements to check

Make sure you meet the stated requirements for:

• Age.
• South African citizenship.
• NQF Level 4 qualification with Mathematics and/or Accounting.
• One year of relevant experience.
• Code B or EB driver’s licence.
• National deployment.
• Shift and weekend work.
• Screening and assessment processes.

Helpful applicant preparation

Applicants should also ensure that the information entered into the SARS recruitment system is accurate and that they understand the location and operational requirements of the position.

Do not treat general application preparation as an additional SARS requirement unless it appears in the official vacancy information.

How to Apply for the SARS Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership

Applications should be made through the official SARS careers recruitment system for Requisition ID 11620 – Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership Programme.

SARS provides an official vacancies page for candidates searching and applying for vacancies.

The SARS external recruitment manual explains that prospective candidates use the SARS career site, create an account and complete the required information before applying for vacancies.

Application steps

1. Visit the official SARS Careers – Vacancies page.
2. Access the SARS career opportunities system.
3. Search for the relevant vacancy using Requisition ID 11620.
4. Review the vacancy requirements carefully.
5. Sign in or create an account if required.
6. Complete the application information accurately.
7. Follow the recruitment system’s instructions to submit the application.
8. Keep a record of your application details for future reference.

Official application route: SARS Careers – Vacancies

Closing Date

The advertised closing date for the SARS Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership Programme is:

29 September 2026

Applicants should check the vacancy on the official SARS recruitment system before submitting their application and should not rely on third-party copies of the advert if the official listing has been updated.

Is There a Stipend or Salary?

The stipend or salary is not specified in the vacancy information supplied for this article.

Youthscope therefore does not state an amount that has not been officially disclosed.

Is This a Permanent Job?

The advertised programme is described as a 12-month contract.

The supplied vacancy information does not state that successful cadets will automatically receive permanent employment after completing the programme. Applicants should therefore regard the advertised opportunity as a 12-month contract unless SARS states otherwise.

Why the Location Requirement Matters

One of the most important points for applicants is the possibility of national deployment.

The listed locations include international airports, harbours, border posts and inland hubs. Some land-border placements can also be remote.

This means applicants should read the location requirements carefully rather than applying solely because a SARS opportunity is available. The ability and willingness to work according to operational requirements can be important for a position of this nature.

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Final Reminder for Applicants

The SARS Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership 2026 is advertised as an 80-position, 12-month contract opportunity with placements across a range of Customs operational environments in South Africa.

The key requirements include NQF Level 4 with Mathematics and/or Accounting, one year of administration, logistics or customer service experience, South African citizenship and a valid Code B or EB driver’s licence.

The advertised closing date is 29 September 2026.

Applicants should verify the vacancy under Requisition ID 11620 on the official SARS recruitment system and carefully review all requirements before submitting an application.

SARS’s official careers pages also confirm that the organisation provides youth development opportunities, including learnerships and internships.

Source and verification note

Source: South African Revenue Service (SARS) official careers and recruitment information, together with the vacancy details supplied for this article.

Last checked: 23 September 2026.

The specific Requisition ID 11620 vacancy details and 29 September 2026 closing date were supplied for this article; the current SARS vacancies page confirms the official recruitment channel but did not expose the specific vacancy details in the search result retrieved today. Applicants should therefore verify Requisition 11620 directly in the SARS recruitment system before submitting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the SARS Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership?

The advertised requirements state that applicants must be South African citizens aged 18 to 35, hold NQF Level 4 with Mathematics and/or Accounting, have at least one year of relevant experience and possess a valid Code B or EB driver’s licence.

What qualification is required?

Applicants need NQF Level 4 with Mathematics and/or Accounting, according to the supplied vacancy information.

How much does the SARS Customs & Excise Cadet Learnership pay?

The stipend or salary is not specified in the available vacancy information supplied for this article.

Where are the positions located?

The advertised positions are spread across locations including OR Tambo International Airport, Durban Harbour, Cape Town International Airport, Lebombo Border Post, Cape Town Harbour and other Customs operational sites.

When does the application close?

The advertised closing date is 29 September 2026.

Is the programme permanent?

The opportunity is advertised as a 12-month contract. The available information does not state that completion automatically results in permanent employment.

Official Source

SARS Careers – Vacancies — SARS’s official vacancies page provides the recruitment route and links candidates to its career application system.

SARS Careers — Official SARS careers information confirms that SARS offers learnerships and other youth development opportunities.

Author/Updated Information

Written by: Mbalizuke Nkosi
Published: 23 September 2026
Updated: 23 September 2026
Information checked: 23 September 2026

Source note: This Youthscope article is based on the programme information supplied for editorial preparation. Where information was not provided, it has been identified as not specified rather than estimated.