Food-processing facilities depend on strict cleaning standards to keep equipment, production lines and work areas ready for safe operation. Free State Oil, part of the VKB Group, is offering an eight-month learnership in Villiers for unemployed young people who have completed Grade 12 and want to gain practical workplace experience.
Learners will work alongside cleaning contractors, complete scheduled cleaning tasks and help clean processing equipment and production lines to the required standards. They must also complete the programme’s assignments during the eight-month training period.
Urgent: The official closing date is 24 July 2026. Applicants should apply immediately because the vacancy may close once the deadline is reached, and VKB states that vacancies may also be withdrawn at the company’s discretion.
At a glance
| Field | Details |
| Employer | VKB Group |
| Business Unit | Free State Oil – Villiers Oil Press |
| Division | VKB Agri Processors |
| Opportunity Type | Learnership |
| Job Title | Learnership – Free State Oil, Villiers |
| Location | Villiers, Free State |
| Employment Type | Contract |
| Programme Duration | 8 months |
| Minimum Experience Level | Entry Level |
| Primary Industry | Agriculture |
| Functional Area | Other |
| Minimum Qualification | Grade 12 |
| Employment Status | Must be unemployed |
| Age Requirement | 18–32 years |
| Residency Requirement | Must be from Villiers or surrounding areas |
| Language Requirement | Must be able to read, understand and write well in English |
| Main Work Focus | Scheduled cleaning, cleaning processing equipment and production lines, teamwork and completion of learnership assignments |
| Physical Work Requirements | Must be able to work in confined spaces and at heights |
| Posted Date | 23 July 2026 |
| Official Closing Date | 24 July 2026 |
| Recommended Submission Date | Apply immediately on 24 July 2026 |
| Last Verified | 24 July 2026 |
What this opportunity is
This is an eight-month workplace learnership with Free State Oil at the Villiers Oil Press.
The programme is intended for unemployed applicants who have completed Grade 12 and live in Villiers or surrounding areas.
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Learners will receive practical workplace exposure through cleaning and production-support activities at the Free State Oil premises.
The programme also requires learners to complete assignments during the eight-month period.
The official advert does not state the stipend, benefits, exact daily working hours, number of available positions, programme start date, qualification awarded or whether employment may be offered after completion.
Who this learnership may suit
This opportunity may suit an unemployed applicant aged 18–32 who lives in Villiers or a nearby area and wants to gain practical workplace experience in an agricultural processing environment.
It may be suitable for someone who is hardworking, willing to complete physical cleaning duties and able to follow instructions carefully.
The learnership may also suit applicants interested in food processing, factory cleaning, industrial hygiene, production support or agricultural processing operations.
Applicants should understand that the practical duties include cleaning processing equipment and production lines rather than office-based administrative work.
What learners will do
Scheduled cleaning duties
- Carry out scheduled daily cleaning tasks.
- Work with cleaning contractors as part of the on-the-job learning experience.
- Follow the cleaning schedule and instructions provided at the workplace.
- Help maintain clean work areas according to the required operating standards.
- Complete assigned cleaning tasks carefully and consistently.
Processing equipment and production-line cleaning
- Clean processing equipment.
- Clean production lines.
- Help ensure that cleaned areas meet the required standards.
- Follow the procedures communicated by Free State Oil and the cleaning team.
- Support cleaning standards that may be checked through sample testing.
Learnership participation and assignments
- Complete the full eight-month learnership at the Free State Oil premises.
- Complete the assignments required by the programme.
- Participate in the workplace-learning activities provided.
- Work cooperatively with contractors, supervisors and other team members.
- Follow the rules and procedures applicable to the worksite.
Important: The duties above are based on the official vacancy. VKB Group and Free State Oil may allocate additional reasonable cleaning, production-support, safety, housekeeping or learning duties according to the programme and operational requirements.
Eligibility requirements
- Must have completed Grade 12.
- Must be unemployed.
- Must be between 18 and 32 years old.
- Must be from Villiers or surrounding areas.
- Must be able to read well in English.
- Must be able to understand instructions written or communicated in English.
- Must be able to write well in English.
- Must be able to work in confined spaces.
- Must be able to work at heights.
- Must be hardworking and willing to complete the programme duties.
- Must be able to work as a team member.
- Must provide complete, accurate and truthful information during the application process.
Grade 12 requirement explained
The official advert requires applicants to have completed Grade 12.
Applicants should show Grade 12 clearly on the CV and prepare a copy of the certificate if requested through the official Simplify application form.
The CV should state the school name and year completed accurately.
Age and unemployment requirements explained
Applicants must be between 18 and 32 years old.
The official advert also requires applicants to be unemployed.
Applicants should answer all age and employment-status screening questions honestly. Providing incorrect information may result in an application being rejected or an offer being withdrawn.
Location requirement explained
The official advert requires applicants to be from Villiers or surrounding areas.
Applicants should make sure their residential address is entered accurately on the official candidate profile.
The advert does not state that transport or accommodation will be provided. Applicants should therefore consider how they will travel to the Free State Oil premises for the duration of the programme.
Confined spaces and working at heights explained
The official advert states that applicants must be able to work in confined spaces and at heights.
This means the workplace-learning duties may take place in industrial areas that are more physically demanding than ordinary office or retail work.
Applicants should follow all official safety instructions, training requirements, protective-equipment rules and supervision arrangements communicated by Free State Oil.
The official advert does not provide detailed information about the height, equipment, specific confined spaces or physical assessments involved. These details should be confirmed directly with the employer if shortlisted.
Desired skills and attributes
- Hardworking attitude.
- Willingness to learn.
- Ability to follow cleaning schedules.
- Ability to work safely in an industrial environment.
- Ability to work in confined spaces.
- Ability to work at heights.
- Teamwork.
- Reliability and punctuality.
- Ability to complete routine and repetitive tasks.
- Attention to cleaning standards.
- Ability to complete written assignments.
- Good understanding of English instructions.
What this learnership really means
This is a practical workplace programme in an oil-processing and production environment.
Learners should expect hands-on cleaning duties rather than classroom learning only.
The work includes cleaning processing equipment and production lines while following the employer’s procedures and safety requirements.
The programme also includes assignments, which means learners must be able to read, understand and write in English.
The official advert does not guarantee employment after the eight-month learnership. Applicants should confirm the stipend, learning qualification, working hours, safety training, programme start date and post-programme prospects if shortlisted.
Application checklist
Prepare the following before applying:
- An updated CV in PDF or Word format.
- A clear copy of the Grade 12 certificate, if requested.
- A clear copy of a South African ID or other valid identity document, if requested.
- Accurate residential-address information showing that you live in Villiers or a surrounding area.
- Accurate current employment-status information.
- Examples of teamwork, cleaning, physical work or practical responsibilities, where applicable.
- A reliable cellphone number.
- A professional email address.
- Any supporting documents requested through the official VKB Simplify platform.
VKB advises applicants to upload only the CV in the Upload CV section. Supporting documents such as an ID or qualification should be uploaded in the separate sections provided by the application form.
Need assistance with preparing your CV and application documents? Visit our Learnership Resources and Guides.
Important note for applicants
This is an eight-month contract learnership at Free State Oil in Villiers.
Applicants must have Grade 12, be unemployed, be aged 18–32 and live in Villiers or surrounding areas.
The work includes scheduled cleaning and cleaning processing equipment and production lines.
Applicants must be able to work in confined spaces and at heights and should only apply if they can meet these requirements safely.
The official advert does not state the stipend, benefits, working hours, qualification awarded, number of positions or programme start date.
The official closing date is tomorrow, 24 July 2026. Applicants should apply immediately.
VKB Group is an equal opportunity employer. The company’s Employment Equity Plan and Transformation Strategy will be considered during recruitment, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
About VKB Group and Free State Oil
VKB Group is a South African agricultural business that supports farmers and operates across agricultural processing, logistics and food-supply activities.
The Group’s regional brands include VKB, GWK and NTK, while its processing operations contribute to the production and movement of food products through the agricultural value chain.
This learnership is linked to Free State Oil – Villiers Oil Press within the VKB Agri Processors division.
Learn more through the official VKB Group website
Quick tips for applicants
- Apply immediately because applications close on 24 July 2026.
- Make sure Grade 12 is clearly shown on your CV.
- Confirm that your age falls within the 18–32 requirement.
- Enter your Villiers or surrounding-area address accurately.
- Be honest about your unemployment status.
- Show that you can read, understand and write in English.
- Highlight cleaning, factory, production or physical-work experience if you have it.
- Show that you can work cooperatively as part of a team.
- Use Google Chrome when accessing the official career portal, as recommended by VKB.
- Upload a clean CV without handwriting.
- Upload only the CV in the CV section and use the separate sections for supporting documents.
- Apply only through the official VKB Simplify vacancy page.
Common mistakes that get applicants rejected
- Applying without Grade 12.
- Applying outside the 18–32 age range.
- Applying while not meeting the unemployment requirement.
- Applying while living outside Villiers and surrounding areas.
- Ignoring the confined-space and working-at-heights requirements.
- Submitting a CV that does not show the school qualification clearly.
- Uploading handwritten information on the CV.
- Combining the CV, ID and supporting documents into one file when the portal provides separate upload sections.
- Providing incorrect age, address or employment-status information.
- Using an incorrect cellphone number or email address.
- Failing to complete the Simplify candidate profile.
- Submitting the application after 24 July 2026.
Scam warning (important)
Applicants should apply only through the official VKB Group Simplify vacancy page or another recruitment link clearly connected to the official VKB Group website.
Do not pay anyone for registration, an application, an interview, an assessment, training, safety equipment, transport or placement in the learnership.
Do not share banking PINs, passwords, one-time PINs or account login information with anyone claiming that they can guarantee acceptance into the programme.
Be cautious of unofficial email addresses, private social-media accounts or cellphone numbers that request money or unnecessary personal information.
Upload your CV, identity document and qualifications only through the official and secure recruitment process.
Always return to the official VKB vacancy page to confirm that the learnership and application link remain active.
How this opportunity was verified
This opportunity was verified from the official VKB Group Simplify listing for Learnership – Free State Oil, Villiers.
The official listing confirmed the employer, job title, Villiers location, Free State province, contract employment type, posted date, closing date, VKB Agri Processors division, Free State Oil – Villiers Oil Press business unit, entry-level classification, Agriculture industry and eight-month contract term.
The listing also confirmed the Grade 12, unemployment, age, location and English requirements; cleaning duties; processing-equipment and production-line duties; assignment requirements; confined-space and height requirements; teamwork attributes; Employment Equity wording and application-upload instructions.
The official advert does not state the stipend, benefits, exact working hours, number of positions, qualification awarded, programme start date or permanent-employment prospects.
Read more about our process on the How We Verify Listings page.
How to apply
- Open the official VKB Group Simplify vacancy page below.
- Read the complete Free State Oil learnership advert.
- Confirm that you have Grade 12.
- Confirm that you are unemployed and aged 18–32.
- Confirm that you live in Villiers or a surrounding area.
- Confirm that you understand the confined-space, working-at-heights and cleaning duties.
- Prepare a clear CV in PDF or Word format.
- Do not combine your ID, driver’s licence or other documents into the CV file.
- Select the Apply option on the official vacancy page.
- Create a Simplify candidate profile or sign in to your existing profile.
- Complete all personal, qualification, address and screening questions honestly.
- Upload the CV in the Upload CV section.
- Upload supporting documents only in the separate sections provided.
- Check that your age, residential address, employment status and contact details are correct.
- Submit the application immediately before the 24 July 2026 deadline.
- Keep the application confirmation or other proof of submission.
Application Closing Date
The official closing date is 24 July 2026.
Applications close tomorrow. Applicants should apply immediately on 23 July 2026 and should not wait until late on the closing date. VKB also states that the company may expire vacancies at its discretion.