Published: 12 August 2026
Last Verified: 12 August 2026
Closing Date: 18 August 2026 at 16:00
Employer: Robben Island Museum
Location: Cape Town, Western Cape
Contract: 6 months
Answer First
Robben Island Museum is recruiting for 43 six-month contract positions across Visitor Operations, Public Heritage Education and Finance.
The vacancies include:
- 6 Bus Drivers
- 10 General Tour Guides
- 8 Prison Guides
- 6 Information Officers
- 8 Ticket-Sales Officers
- 2 Switchboard Operators
- 3 Shop Assistants
The closing date for all positions is 18 August 2026 at 16:00.
The vacancies cover a wide range of backgrounds, from applicants with Grade 10 and a Code 14 driver’s licence to candidates with tourism, history, social sciences, retail, customer service and related qualifications.
A key point for applicants is that these are six-month contracts. The advertisement does not provide salary figures for the positions and states that naming conventions, grading and related salary levels might change following an organisational design process.
Applications must be sent by email with a detailed CV, contactable referees and a copy of ID. Applicants must use the correct email address and subject line for the position they want.
Robben Island Museum Vacancies at a Glance
| Position | Posts | Contract | Main Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus Drivers | 6 | 6 months | Grade 10, Code 14 licence and PDP |
| General Tour Guides | 10 | 6 months | Western Cape tour guide registration and relevant qualification |
| Prison Guides | 8 | 6 months | Knowledge of Robben Island prison history |
| Information Officers | 6 | 6 months | Matric and customer service experience |
| Ticket-Sales Officers | 8 | 6 months | Matric and relevant sales, tourism or customer service experience |
| Switchboard Operators | 2 | 6 months | Matric and switchboard or telephone reception experience |
| Shop Assistants | 3 | 6 months | Matric and retail, customer service or cashier experience |
Who Should Look at These Robben Island Jobs?
This recruitment drive is broader than a standard graduate recruitment programme.
Several positions focus on practical work experience rather than university qualifications. This creates opportunities for applicants with Matric, customer service experience, driving experience, retail experience or administrative skills.
At the same time, the General Tour Guide vacancies specifically require a registered Western Cape tour guide with a relevant tourism, history, social sciences or related qualification.
The Prison Guide position follows a different route. The advertisement specifically mentions ex-political prisoners of Robben Island with knowledge of the prison’s history.
Applicants should therefore assess each vacancy separately rather than assuming all seven positions have the same entry requirements.
1. Bus Drivers, 6 Posts
The Visitor Operations Department has six Bus Driver positions on six-month contracts.
The main purpose is to transport visitors and residents around Robben Island, including transporting residents between the harbour and the island village.
The role involves more than driving.
Drivers will be responsible for passenger safety, daily vehicle inspections, operational records, reporting defects, following maintenance instructions and assisting passengers with special needs.
Requirements
Applicants need:
- Grade 10
- Matric as an added advantage
- At least three years of verifiable driving experience on light and heavy vehicles
- A valid unendorsed Code 14 driver’s licence
- A valid PDP
- Knowledge of safety rules and regulations
- A good driving record
The advertisement specifically states that applicants should have no drunken-driving history.
Important working condition
Applicants should take the working arrangement seriously. The advertisement states that drivers must be able to sleep over on Robben Island and work shifts.
This makes the position more suitable for applicants who are comfortable with island-based work arrangements and shift schedules.
Application
Email your detailed CV, contactable referees and ID copy to the recruitment email specified in the advertisement.
Subject line:
BUS DRIVERS 08/2026
Closing date:
18 August 2026 at 16:00
2. General Tour Guides, 10 Posts
The General Tour Guide recruitment has the largest number of positions, with 10 posts available.
These positions sit within Visitor Operations and focus on helping tourists understand Robben Island’s history, marine environment, buildings, geography and natural environment.
Requirements
Applicants need:
- Registration as a Tour Guide with a Western Cape badge
- Diploma or Degree in Tourism, History, Social Science or a related qualification
- At least two years of relevant experience
- Fluency in English and another official South African language
- Understanding of South African and world political history and current events
- Knowledge of environmental heritage and tourism
A Bachelor’s Degree and foreign-language fluency are listed as advantages.
What makes this role different?
The position requires more than memorising information for visitors.
The successful candidates will research information, develop tour content, manage tour stops, work with colleagues and management, and connect Robben Island’s history with broader South African and world history.
Applicants with strong research, communication and public-speaking abilities should pay particular attention to this opportunity.
Application
Subject line:
GENERAL TOUR GUIDES 08/2026
Applications close:
18 August 2026 at 16:00
3. Prison Guides, 8 Posts
Robben Island Museum is also recruiting eight Prison Guides under the Public Heritage Education Department.
The role focuses heavily on the political history of Robben Island and the history of the prison.
The advertisement specifically mentions:
Ex-political prisoners of Robben Island with knowledge on the history of the prison.
One year of experience is listed as an advantage.
Applicants should also be fluent in at least two South African official languages. Foreign-language ability is an advantage.
Computer literacy is also required.
A requirement applicants should not overlook
The application instructions for Prison Guides require a verifiable prison number.
The subject line must be:
PRISON GUIDES 08/2026
Applications close on 18 August 2026 at 16:00.
The advertisement provides a separate recruitment email for this position.
4. Information Officers, 6 Posts
Six Information Officer positions are available in the Visitor Operations Department.
The role focuses on helping visitors access information and services while supporting an efficient and safe visitor experience.
Responsibilities include:
- Welcoming visitors
- Handling telephone and email requests
- Providing tourism information
- Supporting school visits
- Assisting visitors with technical exhibition facilities
- Managing lost-and-found property
- Making boarding and departure announcements
- Checking visitor tickets
- Supporting visitors with wheelchairs and prams
- Facilitating ferry boarding
- Monitoring passenger numbers
Requirements
Applicants need:
- Matric
- At least two years of customer-service-related experience
- Computer literacy
- Fluency in two official languages
- Customer-service orientation
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving skills
A Higher Certificate in Tourism, Public Relations or Marketing is an advantage. A Customer Service certificate is also listed as an advantage.
Application
Subject line:
INFORMATION OFFICERS 08/2026
Closing date:
18 August 2026 at 16:00
5. Ticket-Sales Officers, 8 Posts
Eight Ticket-Sales Officer positions are available in Visitor Operations.
This is one of the more administrative and commercially focused vacancies in the recruitment drive.
The position involves ticket requests, concessions, complimentary tickets, customer queries, databases, payment processes, reports, reconciliation and communication with internal and external stakeholders.
The successful candidates will also assist with customer complaints, refunds, group bookings and website and email enquiries.
Requirements
Applicants need:
- Matric
- At least two years of experience in ticket sales, reservations, customer service, tourism, hospitality or a related environment
- Good computer and spreadsheet skills
- Customer-service orientation
- Attention to detail
- Planning and organising skills
- Time management
- Good verbal and written communication
- Ability to work under pressure
A Higher Certificate in Events, Tourism or Marketing is an advantage.
VB Macro skills in Excel are specifically mentioned as an advantage.
Who is likely to fit this position?
Applicants with experience in reservations, ticketing, hospitality administration, tourism sales or customer service should compare their experience closely with the listed duties.
The role also involves reconciliation, investigations and identifying suspicious or fraudulent transactions. Applicants with strong administrative and spreadsheet skills have relevant experience to highlight in their CV.
Application
Subject line:
TICKET-SALES OFFICERS 08/2026
Closing date:
18 August 2026 at 16:00
6. Switchboard Operators, 2 Posts
Two Switchboard Operator positions are available in Visitor Operations.
The position involves managing incoming calls and directing them to the appropriate employees or departments.
Other responsibilities include:
- Taking and distributing messages
- Providing basic information about Robben Island Museum
- Reporting faulty telephone equipment
- Updating the staff directory
- Managing phone usage information
- Receiving and distributing post
- Receiving and distributing faxes
- Directing visitors to the appropriate offices
Requirements
Applicants need:
- Matric
- At least two years of switchboard or telephone reception experience
- Computer literacy
- Fluency in two official languages
- Strong verbal and written communication
- Active listening and interpersonal skills
- Customer-service orientation
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving ability
- Polite telephone etiquette
A Higher Certificate in Tourism, Public Relations or Marketing is an advantage.
Application
Subject line:
SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR 08/2026
Closing date:
18 August 2026 at 16:00
7. Shop Assistants, 3 Posts
Three Shop Assistant positions are available in the Finance Department.
The role combines retail, stock handling, customer service and cash-handling responsibilities.
Duties include:
- Stock handling
- Loading and offloading cargo
- Sales and admissions
- Daily cash reconciliation
- Stock-budget monitoring
- Customer service
- Responding to complaints
- Supporting promotions and displays
- Protecting stock
- Working within a multidisciplinary team
Requirements
Applicants need:
- Matric
- At least two years of experience in retail, customer service or till operation/cashiering
- Literacy and numeracy
- Ability to speak English and at least two other languages
A Higher Certificate in Retail Business Management, Retail Management, Marketing, Sales or Business Management is an advantage.
Application
Subject line:
SHOP ASSISTANTS 08/2026
Closing date:
18 August 2026 at 16:00
The Application Method Matters
One of the easiest mistakes to avoid is sending an application to the wrong address or using the wrong subject line.
The advertisement requires applicants to submit:
- A detailed CV
- Contactable referees
- A copy of ID
Applications must be sent by email.
Each position has a specified subject line, so applicants should use the exact subject line associated with the vacancy.
The recruitment email also differs for some positions.
Applicants should therefore check the specific vacancy before sending their application.
Do Not Send Applications After the Deadline
The closing deadline is:
18 August 2026 at 16:00
The advertisement states that late submissions will automatically be disqualified.
This means applicants should avoid waiting until the final afternoon to prepare and send their documents.
A practical approach is to prepare the CV, ID copy and referee details first, then send the application after checking the position-specific email address and subject line.
How to Make Your CV More Relevant
A generic CV is less useful when applying for several different positions.
Your CV should reflect the requirements of the specific vacancy.
For example, a Bus Driver applicant should make driving experience, Code 14 licensing, PDP status, vehicle experience and safety record easy to identify.
A General Tour Guide applicant should highlight tour guide registration, languages, tourism or history qualifications, research experience and relevant guiding experience.
A Ticket-Sales Officer applicant should highlight ticketing, reservations, customer service, spreadsheet work, reconciliation and administrative experience.
A Shop Assistant applicant should place retail, cashier, stock control and customer-service experience prominently.
The goal is to make your relevant experience easy for the recruitment team to identify.
There Is No Salary Information in the Advertisement
Applicants searching for Robben Island Museum vacancies might expect to see a salary figure.
The supplied advertisement does not provide salary amounts for these positions.
It states:
“the naming convention, grading and related salary level may change”
because of an organisational design process underway at the organisation.
For this reason, applicants should not rely on salary figures published elsewhere unless those figures come from a reliable and current source.
These Are Six-Month Contracts
All seven categories in this recruitment notice are advertised as six-month contracts.
Applicants should consider this before applying, particularly if they are looking for permanent employment.
The supplied advertisement does not state that the contracts will automatically be renewed or converted into permanent positions.
Applicants should therefore treat the advertised six-month duration as the current employment period.
What Happens After Applying?
The advertisement states that unsuccessful applicants will not receive a response within the normal recruitment process.
For these vacancies, applicants are told:
If you do not hear from Robben Island Museum within 30 days, consider your application unsuccessful.
Applicants should therefore keep their contact details active and monitor their email after applying.
Personal Information and POPIA
The advertisement states that submitting a CV or application gives Robben Island Museum permission to use the applicant’s personal information for recruitment purposes in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 and the revised amendment dated 2021.
Applicants should therefore submit documents through the recruitment method specified in the advertisement and avoid sending unnecessary personal information.
Which Robben Island Vacancy Fits Your Background?
Use this quick comparison before applying.
If you have a Code 14 licence and PDP
Consider:
Bus Driver
You also need at least three years of verifiable driving experience.
If you have tourism or history training
Consider:
General Tour Guide
You need Western Cape tour guide registration and at least two years of relevant experience.
If you have specific knowledge of Robben Island prison history
Consider:
Prison Guide
The advertisement specifically identifies ex-political prisoners of Robben Island with knowledge of the prison’s history.
If you have customer service experience
Consider:
Information Officer
You need Matric and at least two years of relevant customer-service experience.
If you have ticketing, reservations or hospitality experience
Consider:
Ticket-Sales Officer
The role also suits applicants with strong spreadsheet, reconciliation and administrative skills.
If you have switchboard or telephone reception experience
Consider:
Switchboard Operator
Two years of relevant experience is required.
If you have retail or cashier experience
Consider:
Shop Assistant
The advertisement requires at least two years of retail, customer-service or till-operator/cashier experience.
Why These Vacancies Are Worth Checking
The strongest feature of this recruitment notice is the variety of experience levels represented.
Applicants do not need to hold a university degree for every position.
There are opportunities for people with:
- Grade 10
- Matric
- Driving experience
- Tourism qualifications
- History or Social Science qualifications
- Customer service experience
- Retail experience
- Ticketing experience
- Switchboard experience
- Knowledge of Robben Island history
There are also 43 positions across seven job categories, making this a broader recruitment opportunity than a single vacancy.
Closing Date
Robben Island Museum vacancies close on:
Tuesday, 18 August 2026 at 16:00.
All advertised positions are six-month contracts.
Applicants should check the exact requirements, recruitment email and subject line for their preferred position before submitting their application.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Robben Island Museum vacancies are available?
There are 43 advertised positions across seven categories: Bus Drivers, General Tour Guides, Prison Guides, Information Officers, Ticket-Sales Officers, Switchboard Operators and Shop Assistants.
When do the Robben Island Museum vacancies close?
Applications close on 18 August 2026 at 16:00.
How long are the Robben Island Museum contracts?
The advertised positions are six-month contracts.
Does the advertisement provide salaries?
No. The supplied advertisement does not provide salary amounts. It states that naming conventions, grading and related salary levels might change because of an organisational design process.
What documents are required?
Applicants must submit a detailed CV, contactable referees and a copy of ID.
How do I apply for the Robben Island Museum jobs?
Applications must be submitted by email using the recruitment email and subject line specified for the position.
Are there Robben Island Museum jobs for Matric applicants?
Yes. Matric is listed as a requirement for Information Officers, Ticket-Sales Officers, Switchboard Operators and Shop Assistants. Bus Drivers require Grade 10, while Matric is listed as an advantage.
Is there a driving job available?
Yes. Robben Island Museum is recruiting six Bus Drivers on six-month contracts.
What licence does the Bus Driver vacancy require?
The advertisement requires a valid unendorsed Code 14 driver’s licence and a valid PDP.
Are there tour guide vacancies?
Yes. There are 10 General Tour Guide positions and eight Prison Guide positions.
What is required for the General Tour Guide position?
Applicants need Western Cape tour guide registration, a Diploma or Degree in Tourism, History, Social Science or a related qualification, at least two years of relevant experience, and fluency in English and another official South African language.
Who should apply for the Prison Guide position?
The advertisement specifically mentions ex-political prisoners of Robben Island with knowledge of the prison’s history. Applicants also need fluency in at least two South African official languages and computer literacy.
How many Information Officer positions are available?
There are six Information Officer positions.
How many Ticket-Sales Officer positions are available?
There are eight Ticket-Sales Officer positions.
How many Switchboard Operator positions are available?
There are two Switchboard Operator positions.
How many Shop Assistant positions are available?
There are three Shop Assistant positions.
What happens if I do not receive a response?
The advertisement states that applicants who do not hear from Robben Island Museum within 30 days should consider their applications unsuccessful.
Application Details
For the correct recruitment email address, position-specific subject line and full requirements, applicants should refer to the relevant vacancy section in the original Robben Island Museum advertisement.
GPG Vacancies provides applicant-focused information to help job seekers understand South African employment opportunities. The official Robben Island Museum recruitment information remains the final authority for requirements, application instructions, deadlines and any changes to the vacancies.
Applicants should verify all details before submitting their documents.
Closing date: 18 August 2026 at 16:00.
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Skhumbuzo Shandu is the founder of Careers With Shandu, a platform dedicated to helping South Africans access job opportunities, learnerships, and career development resources.
He focuses on sharing clear, practical, and up-to-date information to help matriculants, graduates, and job seekers navigate applications and build their careers.
Through his work, he aims to make opportunities easier to understand and accessible to everyone, especially young people entering the workforce.
