A matric certificate, a driver’s licence and the courage to face heights and flames. That’s the real entry ticket to Sasol’s new Learner Fire Fighter programme, which has 12 spots open across Secunda and Sasolburg and a closing date of 19 June 2026. No experience required — just the willingness to be trained and tested.
Most career-defining opportunities ask for things young people don’t have yet: a qualification, a network, a track record. This one flips that script. Sasol is looking for raw potential and the right attitude, then building the skills from the ground up. For school-leavers in these communities, that’s a genuine running start.
What is the Sasol Learner Fire Fighter programme?
It’s a structured learnership that pairs real on-the-job training with formal classroom learning. You move through a full assessment process while taking part in workplace-readiness exercises, all aimed at qualifying you in a high-stakes safety field.
The contract runs as a fixed-term agreement for the length of the programme. Of the 12 openings, 4 are based in Secunda and 8 in Sasolburg.
Do you meet the requirements?
Sasol keeps the criteria clear, so it’s easy to check yourself against them. You’ll need a completed National Senior Certificate (Grade 12/Matric) with passes in three areas:
- Technical Mathematics, Mathematics, or Maths Literacy
- English or Business English
- Technical or Physical Science
On top of that, a Code B driver’s licence (or higher) is essential, you must be aged between 18 and 29, and you must live within Sasol’s local communities — Secunda or Sasolburg.
What’s the test most applicants underestimate?
The physical and mental screening. Fire fighting demands a body and a mindset that can cope under pressure, and Sasol assesses both before you’re accepted. You’ll face a stress and fear assessment built around heights, confined spaces, fire exposure and cat ladders, followed by a fire fighter fitness assessment.
Treat these as the real gatekeepers, not a formality.
Itumeleng’s Insider Tip: The trick with fear assessments isn’t pretending you’re fearless — it’s training your body to stay calm while your nerves do their thing. In the days before, deliberately put yourself in mildly uncomfortable spots: a high balcony, a tight space, a tough workout that pushes your stamina. Familiarity quietly takes the edge off panic, and assessors can tell the difference between someone who froze and someone who’s been practising.
Why is this opportunity worth your time?
Because it’s a paid, structured route into a respected and genuinely needed profession, backed by one of South Africa’s largest energy and chemicals employers. Sasol invests in its people across every stage of their careers, so the qualification you earn can carry you far beyond the contract itself.
It’s also built on equal opportunity. Sasol welcomes every application regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, belief, disability, age or sexual identity — what matters is whether you fit the requirements.
How do you apply?
Before anything else, get your documents in order and make sure every detail is truthful. Sasol warns that false information or invalid documents will make your application null and void. One more thing worth saying plainly: Sasol will never ask you to pay a cash deposit during recruitment, so treat any such demand as a scam.
Applications must be submitted through Sasol’s official online careers portal before the 19 June 2026 deadline.
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Final Thoughts
Few opportunities give young people a way in without first demanding experience they haven’t had the chance to build. The Sasol Learner Fire Fighter learnership does exactly that — it asks for the basics, then tests whether you’ve got the nerve and discipline to be trained for something demanding. With only 12 places and a fast-approaching deadline, the candidates who act early and prepare properly will be the ones standing out. Check the boxes, ready your documents, and apply before 19 June.
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