Certified documents for employment now valid for six months

RESPONDING to social media complaints, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced, in a statement, that job seekers can now use certified documents that are up to six months old when applying for employment.

According to the statement, complaints on social media and through other channels questioned the requirements for compliance with public sector job applications.

Previously, documents had to be certified every three months – a requirement that put strain on job seekers and certification officers alike.

The presidency said that all government departments and components were also required to adhere to the new compliance.

Certified copies of documents submitted with an application for employment can be up to six months old, as long as the document does not have an expiry date that falls within the six-month period.

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“Government has recognised that the practice to date impacts negatively on job seekers in the current economic climate in South Africa, and that there is a need to reduce the burden on job seekers to submit – with each separate job application – certified copies of supporting documents (such as academic qualifications, which are not older than three months),” said the presidency in a statement.

The presidency said this change would also reduce the workload that the certification of documents creates for the South African Police Service personnel, who will now be able to devote more time to their core function of ensuring that South Africans are and feel safe.

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