Principal Cadastral Officer

About the role

The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development is hiring a Principal Cadastral Officer in Examination Services, based in Western Cape (Cape Town). This is a permanent post, paying R413,001 a year. How to apply: Applications can be submitted by hand delivery during office hours to: 4th floor, No 2 Riebeeck Street, ABSA Building, Cape Town or by email to Post272@dlrrd.gov.za Reference number to quote: 3/1/1/1/2026/272 Closing date: 23 October 2026 at 16:00 Use the new Z83 form and attach a detailed CV. Note: EE Targets: Indian and White Males, and African, Coloured and Indian Females, and Persons with Disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Capture, maintain and update alpha numeric data of simple as well as more complex cadastral documents.
• Capture alpha and numeric information from newly submitted cadastral documents (simple and complex) and undertake mathematical consistency checks of and data verification of for proposed new land parcels.
• Update cadastral survey databases through the addition or amendment of every approved document (simple and complex) to maintain an electronic alpha-numeric repository.
• Capture and verify simple and complex historical cadastral documents.
• Attend to complicated maintenance of cadastral documents in accordance with legislated processes.
• Perform withdrawal or cancellation of cadastral documents upon lawful instruction.
• Deduct, cancel and endorse cadastral documents with registered land parcels, leases or servitudes.
• Attend to complex amendments of approved and registered cadastral documents.
• Insert all newly approved cadastral documents into the archive.
• Extract and issue out cadastral records.
• Refile returned cadastral records.
• Repair and keep cadastral records in good usable condition.
• Conduct technical examination of simple as well as more complex cadastral documents.
• Check designations of newly submitted lodgements.
• Perform technical examination of simple and complex diagrams and general plans.
• Perform technical examination of survey records.
• Perform technical examination of simple and complex sectional title plans.
• Update the noting sheets through the addition of every approved cadastral land parcel.
• Research and supply cadastral information to internal and external clients.
• Retrieve and supply cadastral information to clients.
• Supply aerial photographs, rectified imagery and maps from National Geospatial Information (NGI) according to signed service level agreements.
• Carry out basic research into cadastral survey information pertaining to land parcel boundaries for clients and Land Reform.
• Capture, maintain and update spatial data with simple as well as more complex cadastral documents.
• Capture newly submitted documents to determine if there are any spatial overlaps prior approval.
• Add data, update and maintain an accurate dataset of cadastral spatial information, including the addition and updating of historical data.
• Research possible sources of error if overlaps are detected and address errors appropriately.
• Utilise cadastral survey calculation principles and other legitimate sources of data to improve the quality of land parcel boundary information.
• Scan all cadastral documents on approval, amendment, endorsement or withdrawal and execute quality checking.
• Scan newly approved cadastral documents.
• Re-scan all updated (amended, endorsed or withdrawn) cadastral documents.
• Link the deposited scanned images to the alpha numeric data.
• Carry out operations and do quality checking to ensure that the scanned image databases are clean and accurate.

Requirements

• Minimum requirements:
• A Grade 12 Certificate and a National Certificate in Geomatics or Survey Officer Certificate (NQF Level 5)
• At least 6 years geomatics post qualification experience in a geomatics or cadastral survey environment
• Job related knowledge:
• Knowledge of Geographical Information Systems Software and fundamentals
• Knowledge of Surveyor-General’s Office Standard Operating Procedures and processes
• Knowledge of Cadastral Surveys
• Job related skills:
• Problem solving and analysis
• Decision making
• Team leadership
• Creativity
• Customer focus and responsiveness
• Communication (verbal and written)
• Computer literacy
• Planning and organising
• Conflict management
• Negotiation