Director: Forensic Mental Health

About the role

The Department of Health is hiring a Director: Forensic Mental Health in Non-Communicable Diseases,, based in Pretoria. This is a contract post, paying R1,317,384 a year. How to apply: The Director-General, National Department of Health, Private Bag X399, Pretoria, 0001. Hand delivered application may be submitted at Reception (Brown Application Box), Dr AB Xuma Building, 1112 Voortrekker Rd, Pretoria Townlands 351-JR or should be forwarded to recruitment@health.gov.za quoting the reference number on the subject e-mail. For attention: Ms M Shitiba Reference number to quote: NDOH 82/2026 Closing date: 09 November 2026 Use the new Z83 form and attach a detailed CV.

Responsibilities

• Process, monitor and ensure compliance of the department with the legislative mandates emanating from the Mental Health Care Act, Criminal Procedure Act, Child Justice Act, and Sexual Offences Act.
• Develop legislation, policies, guidelines and programmes on forensic mental health services.
• Develop training programme for psychiatrics and clinical psychologists on the implementation of the legal mandates emanating from the Criminal Procedure and Child Justice Act.
• Ensure adequate appropriate infrastructure for forensic mental health services.
• Develop and seek approval for the proposal on a project for increasing beds for mental observations in psychiatric hospitals.
• Consult provinces on the number of beds required for mental observations in designated psychiatric hospital.
• Maintain and update information management systems on forensic mental health.
• Keep and update information management systems for State patients on movements to and from designated psychiatric hospitals.
• Facilitate intersectoral, interdepartmental and intradepartmental collaboration on issues pertaining to forensic mental health.
• Serve in the Director-General’s Child Justice Committee and the Development Committee (DevComm) of the Criminal Justice system led by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
• Participate in the Human Rights Commission on issues pertaining to the human rights of involuntarily detained persons.

Requirements

• Grade 12 certificate and an appropriate NQF 7 in Mental Health Related Profession (Medicine, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, Occupational Therapy or Social Work) as recognised by SAQA.
• Registration with a relevant statutory council as a Mental Health Practitioner.
• Postgraduate qualification in Psychiatry or another relevant mental health specification will be an advantage.
• At least 5 years’ experience in middle/senior managerial level in the field involved with forensic mental health.
• Demonstrable experience in forensic psychiatry/mental health including care, treatment and rehabilitation of State patients and mentally ill prisoners as outlined in the Mental Health Act No 17 of 2002.
• Evaluation/assessments relating to section 77, 78 and 79 Criminal Procedure Act No 51 of 1977 (as amended), section 11 of the child Justice Act No 75 of 2008.
• Implementation of Sexual Offences Act.
• Knowledge in health legislation and health policies, health systems as well as of Clinical Mental Health/psychiatry/psychology, forensic mental health and research.
• Good communication (verbal and written), facilitation and people management, financial management, leadership, planning and organization, problem solving, human resource management and computer skills (MS Office package).
• A valid driver’s license.
• SMS pre-entry Certificate is required for appointment finalization.