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Department of Education HR Contact Details
All Government contactsComplaints & escalation
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) switchboard in Pretoria is 012 357 3000, and its call centre is 0800 202 933 (Callcentre@dbe.gov.za). The national DBE handles HR only for its own head-office staff and for national educator recruitment; teachers in public schools are employed and paid by the nine provincial education departments, so salary, PERSAL, leave and appointment queries go to your provincial department or district.
This page is about the national Department of Basic Education, not the Department of Higher Education and Training. For the department’s general numbers, see Department of Education contact details.
Department of Education HR contact details at a glance
| Route | Details |
|---|---|
| DBE switchboard (Pretoria head office) | 012 357 3000 |
| DBE call centre | 0800 202 933 |
| DBE call centre email | Callcentre@dbe.gov.za |
| DBE general email | info@dbe.gov.za |
| DBE vacancies page | education.gov.za/Vacancies/tabid/241/Default.aspx |
| Job applications and educator database: postal | Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001 |
| Job applications: hand delivery | The Department of Basic Education, 222 Struben Street, Pretoria |
| Qualified Educators Recruitment Database | education.gov.za, Information for Teachers, Unemployed Educators |
Official Department of Education HR route
Which office you need depends on who you are. If you are a serving teacher at a public school, your employer is your provincial education department, not the national DBE. Contact your province for salary, PERSAL, leave or appointment issues. The DBE lists these provincial switchboards on its contact page:
| Province | Telephone |
|---|---|
| Eastern Cape Department of Education | 040 608 4200 |
| Free State Department of Education | 051 404 8000 |
| Gauteng Department of Education | 011 355 0000 |
| KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education | 033 846 5000 |
| Limpopo Department of Education | 015 290 7611 |
| Mpumalanga Department of Education | 013 766 5000 |
| North West Department of Education | 018 388 2562/2564 |
| Northern Cape Department of Education | 053 839 6500 |
| Western Cape Education Department | 021 467 2000 |
If you are applying for a post at the national DBE, or you are a qualified educator looking for work, the national department is the right route. Its HR functions for recruitment run through the vacancies page and the Directorate: Education Human Resource, Planning, Provisioning and Monitoring, which keeps the Qualified Educators Recruitment Database. For general questions, call the switchboard on 012 357 3000 or the call centre on 0800 202 933, or email info@dbe.gov.za.
What you need before contacting
- For a DBE post: the most recently approved Z83 form, completed in full, and a detailed CV. Using the old Z83 means disqualification. Certified copies of qualifications are requested only from shortlisted candidates.
- For the educator database: the database form and certified copies of your qualifications, posted to the Directorate: Education Human Resource, Planning, Provisioning and Monitoring.
- SACE registration: teachers must register with SACE before appointment to a teaching post.
The DBE enters into correspondence only with short-listed applicants. Successful candidates undergo personnel suitability checks, covering criminal record, citizenship, financial and asset records, qualification and employment verification, including social media. New public-service appointees must join GEMS to qualify for the medical subsidy.
Step-by-step contact process
- Check open DBE posts on the vacancies page and note the post reference number.
- Complete the latest Z83 in full, sign page 2, quote the post and reference number, and attach a detailed CV.
- Post the application to Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001, or hand-deliver it to the Department of Basic Education, 222 Struben Street, Pretoria, before the closing date in the advert.
- For questions about a specific post, use the enquiries details printed in that post’s advert, or call the DBE switchboard on 012 357 3000.
- If you are a qualified educator without a post, register on the Qualified Educators Recruitment Database by posting the form and certified qualifications to Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001.
- If you are a serving teacher with a salary, PERSAL or appointment issue, contact your provincial education department using the numbers above.
Escalation route
The DBE does not publish a separate HR escalation line. If your provincial or district office does not resolve an issue, the national call centre on 0800 202 933 or Callcentre@dbe.gov.za is the DBE’s published route for queries. Keep a note of who you spoke to, the date and any reference you were given, so you can quote them if you have to follow up.
For other departments, browse the government hub or the government directory, C to D listings.
FAQs
What is the Department of Education HR contact number?
The national DBE switchboard is 012 357 3000 and its call centre is 0800 202 933. Serving teachers should call their provincial education department, for example Gauteng on 011 355 0000 or the Western Cape on 021 467 2000.
Who handles teacher salary and PERSAL queries?
Your provincial education department or district. Public school teachers are employed and paid by the provinces, not the national DBE.
How do I apply for a job at the Department of Basic Education?
Apply on the latest Z83 form with a detailed CV, quoting the post and reference number, and post it to Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001 or hand-deliver it to 222 Struben Street, Pretoria.
How do unemployed educators register with the DBE?
Register on the Qualified Educators Recruitment Database by posting the form and certified qualifications to the Directorate: Education Human Resource, Planning, Provisioning and Monitoring, Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001.
Sources
- DBE, Contact the DBE: education.gov.za/AboutUs/ContacttheDBE.aspx, read 2026-09-26
- DBE, Vacancies: education.gov.za/Vacancies/tabid/241/Default.aspx, read 2026-09-26
- DBE, current vacancy advert (PDF): education.gov.za/LinkClick.aspx, read 2026-09-26
- DBE, Unemployed educators: education.gov.za/Informationfor/Teachers/UnemployedEducators/, read 2026-09-26
- DBE, Register as an educator: education.gov.za/Informationfor/Teachers/Registerasaneducator/, read 2026-09-26