JOHANNESBURG CITY PARKS & ZOO LEARNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 2026

Monthly Stiped: R4 000p/m

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is offering Horticulture Learnership to unemployed youth of South
Africans in possession of a matriculation qualification or equivalent and reside in the Johannesburg
regions. The ages must be between 18 to 35 years. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Horticultural minimum requirements:
Qualifications: Grade 12 certificate (Achieved) or NQF L4
Knowledge: Health & Safety in horticultural environment and Soil Science

Training Outputs:

1. Plant Care & Maintenance

• Soil Preparation: Identifying soil types and conditioning or preparing soils for planting.
• Planting: Establishing ornamental and herbaceous plants from containers into open
  ground.
• Pruning: Pruning and shaping ornamental shrubs, trees, and other plants.
• Fertilisation: Applying specific fertilisers to plants, landscapes, and ornamental seedlings.
• Watering: Applying water to landscaped areas and managing irrigation sprinklers and
  emitters.

2. Propagation & Cultivation

• Seed & Stem Propagation: Propagating plants from seeds and stem cuttings.
• Growth Media: Utilizing appropriate growth media for plant containers.
• Nursery Care: Basic identification and care of ornamental seedlings.

3. Pest & Weed Control

• Weed Removal: Manual and chemical removal of weeds and alien invader plants.
• Pest Control: Applying pest control practices and mixing/applying herbicides or pesticides

4. Environmental & Safety Standards

• Health & Safety: Applying core health and safety principles within a horticultural
  environment.
• Protection: Demonstrating awareness and implementation of environmental protection
  practices

5. Technical & Physical Skills

• Tool Handling: Safe use of horticultural machinery and equipment, such as mowers.
• Physical Fitness: Learners must be physically fit and healthy to handle manual labor and
  outdoor work.
• Basic Literacy: Ability to communicate, read, and write.

Kindly find the applying link : https://share.google/6aJHZ8AKDopuVz1wG

The duration of the learnership will be Twelve months (12 months) and that there should be no
expectations for permanent absorption at the end of the learnership period.

Workplace: Regions

Contact Details for Enquiries : (011) 712 6601/6668 Closing date: 24 February 2026

Note: Johannesburg Parks and Zoo is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all persons to
apply. If you do not receive a response from us within 21 days after the closing date of this
advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.

We wish you all the best with your applications

Welcome to the JHB Zoo

Please Note: The Zoo is open every day from 08:30 – 17:30

Get in touch with us on:  082 803 0333

Overview

The Joburg Zoo is one of the most popular local and tourist attractions situated in the leafy northern suburb of Johannesburg. The Zoo covers 55 hectares of land and was founded in 1904, when land was donated to the public for recreational use by the firm of the late Hermann Ekstein.

The Joburg Zoo houses over 320 species of animals, totalling about 2 000 animals. The Joburg Zoo is open to the public 364 days a year, including Christmas, New Years and Easter holidays. With international accreditation, the Zoo maintains a high standard of animal welfare, nutrition and ethical conduct to ensure the physical and psychological well-being of all its animals.

The Joburg Zoo has many fun offers to visitors such as various night and day tours, school holiday programmes, venue hire and regular events for the public. Please look through our calendar to find a fun event for the whole family!

The history of the Zoo

In 1904, the land which the Johannesburg Zoo encompasses was donated to the people of the city of Johannesburg to be used for recreational use by the firm of the late Hermann Eckstein. Hermann Eckstein was involved in the development of the new mining town of Johannesburg. He had 3-million trees planted in an area which he christened Sachsenwald, now the suburb of Saxonwold.

Since then, the Johannesburg Zoo has developed and evolved over the years. Many facilities were built, for example the hospital in 1936.

Public perception of the zoo changed in the 1960’s when visitors wanted to see animals in larger, more natural enclosures. This was the start of the zoo’s long-term plans to grow and improve the facility for both the animals and the visitors. These changes saw the upgrading and creation of old and new enclosures, the development of education and environmental programmes, and the zoo becoming part of local and international breeding programmes. 

Did you know?

The original animal collection consisted of one lion, one leopard, one giraffe, two Sable antelope bulls, one baboon, one genet, one pair of Rhesus monkeys, one pair of porcupines and one Golden eagle.

Here are some more fun facts:

• The first ‘official’ enclosure was built by the Town Council to house two young lions. Only the lions and leopard were in the public area at this stage.
• In 1910 the Bandstand was built to host the popular brass band music of the day.
• Between 1913 and 1915 the stone elephant and rhino house was built. Also at this time, one Asian elephant and one Bactrian camel were purchased and trained for rides.
• In 1961 for the first time visitors over the age of 16 were charged to enter the zoo.