VerifiedSasol is one of the few South African employers that publishes exactly what it wants from a learner before it advertises anything. If your subjects do not match the list below, no amount of motivation will get you through the screening, because the first filter is automated. If they do match, you are competing on a much smaller field than the applicant numbers suggest.
The subjects Sasol requires
Sasol asks for a completed National Senior Certificate or equivalent, with a pass in all three of these:
- Technical Mathematics or Mathematics, standard or higher grade.
- English or Business English, standard or higher grade.
- Technical Science or Physical Science, standard or higher grade.
Mathematical Literacy does not meet that requirement. This is the single most common reason a Sasol application goes nowhere, and it is worth reading your statement of results before you spend an evening on the form.
The fields Sasol trains learners in
| Field | What the work looks like |
|---|---|
| Chemical plant operations, also called process or production | Running and monitoring plant equipment on a shift roster |
| Instrumentation and control | Calibrating and fixing the instruments that keep a plant inside its limits |
| Electrical operations | Industrial electrical systems, motors and switchgear |
| Fitting | Mechanical assembly, alignment and repair of rotating equipment |
| Turning | Machining components on lathes and milling machines |
| Boilermaking | Fabricating and repairing pressure vessels, pipework and steel structures |
| Welding | Coded welding on plant and pipework |
| Rigging | Moving and lifting heavy plant safely |
Where fire fighting fits in
Sasol runs its own industrial emergency services at Secunda and Sasolburg, because a chemical and fuels complex cannot wait for a municipal engine. Fire fighter intakes are advertised through the same careers portal as the trades, but the screening is physical as well as academic: expect a fitness assessment and a test of how you cope with heights, confined spaces and heat. A valid driving licence is normally required, since the job involves operating response vehicles.
An industrial fire fighter spends far more time on prevention, inspections and drills than on fires. If that sounds dull rather than reassuring, this is not the programme for you.
The five stages after you apply
- Interview.
- Psychometric assessment.
- Medical fitness test.
- Security clearance.
- Verification of your qualifications and other details.
Sasol also publishes a rule worth writing down: if the learner programme team has not contacted you within 60 days of the closing date, treat the application as unsuccessful. That saves you months of waiting, and it tells you when to start applying elsewhere.
Where the trade takes you afterwards
Sasol maps the path openly. On the artisan side it runs artisan, senior artisan, specialist artisan and master artisan. On the technical side it runs technician, technologist and engineer. That matters when you choose a field: a trade completed at a plant of this size is portable across mining, manufacturing and petrochemicals for the rest of your working life.
How to catch the next intake
- Create a profile on the Sasol careers portal and switch on job alerts, so an advert reaches you rather than the other way round.
- Read the Sasol learnerships page before you apply, so your subjects and documents are already in order.
- Apply for the field you actually qualify for. Applying for all eight does not improve your odds and slows your own screening.
- Watch the mid-year months. Sasol intakes have tended to close around September, unlike the January retail rush described in the recruiting calendar.
Sasol is not the only industrial employer that trains artisans. Mining houses run longer trade programmes, and the sector guide sets out what each one asks for.
Frequently asked questions
What subjects do I need for a Sasol learnership?
A National Senior Certificate or equivalent with a pass in Technical Mathematics or Mathematics, English or Business English, and Technical Science or Physical Science. Mathematical Literacy is not accepted.
Does Sasol still take fire fighter learners?
Sasol runs its own emergency services at Secunda and Sasolburg and advertises intakes through its careers portal. There is no fixed annual date, so set up job alerts on the portal.
How will I know if my Sasol application failed?
Sasol states that if its learner programme team has not contacted you within 60 days after the closing date, you should regard the application as unsuccessful.
What happens after a Sasol learnership?
The artisan route runs artisan, senior artisan, specialist artisan and master artisan. The technical route runs technician, technologist and engineer.