ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER

KOUGA MUNICIPALITY (EC 108)

EXTERNAL VACANCY

NOTICE 90/2025

Kouga Local Municipality is committed to the prescripts of the approved Employment Equity Plan and furthermore invites suitably qualified applicants to submit a detailed application for the following position:

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER

REQUIREMENTS:

• National Diploma in Environmental Health (NQF Level 6);
• Code EB Driver’s License;
• Computer literate
• 2 – 3 years' relevant experience.
• Sound knowledge of Environmental Health legislation,       policies and procedures;
• Sound report writing and presentation skills;
• Analytical skills;
• Attention to detail;
• Good communication skills.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS:                                 Required to work in all weather conditions.

SALARY:                                                         R400 509.88 – R519 889.07 Per Annum

TASK:                                                              12

DUTIES:

• Visiting specific premises, observing and recording outcomes of production, distribution consumption areas and the storage, handling and processing sequence;
• Assessing and analysing the adequacy of structural design to accommodate specific business operations with due consideration given to ventilation, lighting, emission and waste extraction systems;
• Monitoring and controlling water quality in compliance with the legislation and Water Regulation standards;
• Attending to complaints related to health and safety nuisances (overgrown vegetation, illegal dumping, etc.) and record observations;
• Evaluating awareness and adequacy of procedures related to refuse and waste handling and disposal and, collects and performs tests/ analysis on samples;
• Identifying polluting sources and agents and/ or attending community concerns on the spread of infectious diseases and conducts environmental health, hazard and risk assessments;
• Seeking approval and serving compliance orders and notifications to stop or correct specific sequences to enable compliance;
• Monitoring conformance with served orders through scheduled or ad hoc inspection;
• Enforcing compliance with the Municipality by-laws and legislation through ongoing monitoring, observations and site inspections;
• Reporting continuous infringement or serious contraventions to the immediate supervisor for approval to institute further/ or urgent measures such as termination of operations, closure of premises and issuing of fines;
• Promoting and supporting stakeholders and community participation in affairs of government through participating in all delegated intergovernmental forums; collaborating with other sector departments on environmental issues; and participating in multi-stakeholder surveys and conducting research on environmental related issues;
• Creating awareness on communicable diseases and networking alternative interventions with relevant stakeholders/departments and attending to enquiries on specific environmental health legislative requirements for registration and licensing requirements;
• Attending to specific complaints/ concerns from the public with respect to illegal refuse accumulation, investigating and applying corrective measures;
• Investigating cases of infectious diseases notified to the department, assessing contacts of notifiable diseases and disease profile, undertaking collection of laboratory specimens e.g. rabies outbreak/ rodent infestation, etc, compiling data for reports and epidemiology research projects, including coordinating the investigation of all animal bite incidents in liaison with State Veterinarian and District Surgeon pertaining to rabies control;
• Participating in the TB Management plan for the National, Provincial and Local Authorities; developing TB monitoring and evaluation system for the sub-district, ensuring that the follow-ups are done efficiently and timeously, reporting to the TB Management team on progress, undertaking TB awareness campaigns through demonstrations and education lectures to the public and council departments in order to prevent the spread of TB and reduce the mortality rate of the infected patients to respond to the National Health Departments Plans for TB control in the region;
• Assessing and analysing the adequacy of structural design (building plans) to accommodate specific business operations e.g. current and proposed new buildings/ crèches/ old age homes/ etc, with due consideration given to ventilation, lighting, emission and waste/ fume extraction systems, and compliance with environmental health requirements;
• Reviewing, inspecting, monitoring and auditing of all scheduled Trade Applications which includes new and existing applications through identifying, evaluating and controlling all physical, chemical, biological, ergonomical stresses and occupational hazards in the workplace by applying international protocols, local legislation and scientific or health-based standards; evaluating environmental performance against standards, guidelines and best practice in finalizing permit, and authorizing permit with specific standards, targets and conditions;
• Monitoring private, public mortuaries and related services (crematoria, hearses etc.) through the legislated registration and monitoring thereof and the local regulation of mortuaries and related activities on health safety and environmental issues relating to mortuaries and related practices;
• Monitoring premises with a view to implementing departmental policy in terms of the Housing Act relating to demolitions and conversions, including reporting and commenting on Town Planning proposals to ensure compliance with environmental health requirements;
• Manages and monitors traditional healer practices through the provision of Health Education lectures to traditional healers, ensuring quality of health care in the traditional health practice, conducting enquiries and investigating complaints and allegations relating to traditional healers, and inspecting traditional healer establishments for the maintenance of good hygienic standards and practices;
• Applying innovative and creative practices such as cleaner production, best available technology to reduce pollution load by awareness campaigns and the facilitating of projects to shift to cleaner production;
• Attending multi-stakeholder forums relating to intervention programs viz. pollution strategies, pipeline and tank integrity management, groundwater and soil remediation, air quality management and plans (multi-point plans) designing road network systems to transport dangerous cargo, land use planning, right of way committees, safe drum initiatives, blue sky programs;
• Monitoring fairs fetes, promotions, exhibitions and public gatherings to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and departmental requirements;
• Monitoring all food hawkers and vendors, attending license hearings, and investigations pertaining to food poisoning, to ensure satisfactory hygienic standards and the prevention of possible disease outbreaks;
• Monitoring the activities of the Landfill employees and ensuring that procedures are carried out in terms of defined procedures. Providing guidelines and specific instructions to personnel with respect to the preparation of landfill site;
• Preparing investigational and productivity reports referring to statistical data and qualitative information related to specific investigations and complaints;
• Completing instructional/ operational documentation (vehicle log sheets) extracting information from field reports/ activity lists and forwarding for approval and processing;
• Preparing responses to correspondences and queries, undertaking research or extracting information and records to support content, recommendations and/ or opinion and seeks approval from the immediate superior prior to circulation;
• Completing details/ information on statutory notices indicating non-compliance to specific codes and regulations, forwarding for approval prior to serving on offenders;
• Maintaining effective financial administration and accountability;
• Maintaining files and documentation related to the activities of the functionality using sequential codes to facilitate access and retrieval of information;

BENEFITS:                                                            As per standard conditions of service.

Applicants must submit a formal application form and a comprehensive CV, copies of qualifications, identity document and driver's license. Applications must be submitted electronically as one PDF document to recruitment@kouga.gov.za. Application forms can be obtained from the Municipal website, www.kouga.gov.za and must reach the Human Resource Manager on or before Monday, 12 May 2025 at 12:00.

For any enquiries contact Ms. Z Gxuluwe: 042 200 2200.

Disqualification:

Please note that the following can lead to disqualification:

1. Canvassing of councillors.
2. Submission of fraudulent qualifications and/ or documents.

NB: Please note that shortlisted candidates will be subjected to a vetting and assessment process. By applying for this position, the candidates agree to background checks being performed.

The Municipality reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Preference will be given to applicants residing within the Kouga area of jurisdiction.

Should you not hear from us within 30 days of closing date, kindly regard your application as being unsuccessful.

MR. C DU PLESSIS                                                                              P. O. BOX 21

MUNICIPAL MANAGER                                                                      JEFFREYS BAY

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