Latest positions at National Nuclear Regulator
Equity Statement
Appointment will be subjected to a positive security and medical assessment being obtained. Applications should indicate in the application whether they agree to being subjected to a security vetting and medical assessment process. The Appointment of candidates is at sole discretion of the National Nuclear Regulator in accordance with its Employment Equity, the National Nuclear Regulator takes cognizance of affirmative action in its selection and appointment processes. Should you not hear from us within 30 days after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful. Enquiries should be directed to Ms Duduzile Mlotshwa on 012 674 7100.
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Our Values
The National Nuclear Regulator subscribes to six key values. Each of the value descriptors are as follows:
- Excellence
Delivering outstanding quality of work, efficiently, effectively and innovatively
- Integrity
Acting in a non-biased, fair, objective, consistent, honest, reliable, principled way
- Openness and Transparency
Openness and transparency in the regulatory decision-making process and the communication of regulatory decisions
- Safety and Security
Upholding a culture of safety and security within the organisation, with holders of nuclear authorisations and in our interactions with all other stakeholders
- Teamwork
Being a cohesive team that works collaboratively to realise common goals to deliver exceptional results
- Caring
Recognising and appreciating our people by valuing their inputs, showing empathy and creating a conducive and supportive working environment
Our Vision
"To be recognised as a caring and trusted nuclear and radiation safety Regulator."
Our Mission
"To provide and maintain an effective national regulatory framework through innovation in the protection of persons, property and the environment against radiation damage."
The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) is a public entity which is established and governed in terms of Section 3 of the National Nuclear Regulator Act, (Act No 47 of 1999) to provide for the protection of persons, property and the environment against nuclear damage through the establishment of safety standards and regulatory practices.
We are responsible for granting nuclear authorisations and exercising regulatory control related to safety over the siting, design, construction, operation, manufacture of component parts, and the decontamination, decommissioning and closure of nuclear installations; and vessels propelled by nuclear power or having radioactive material on board which is capable of causing nuclear damage.
The facilities and actions regulated by the National Nuclear Regulator are diverse and includes the operation of nuclear power reactors, research reactors, nuclear technology applications, radioactive waste management, mining and processing of radioactive ores, users of small quantities of radioactive material, transport of radioactive materials, vessels propelled by nuclear power or having radioactive material on board and to any other actions capable of causing nuclear damage to which the National Nuclear Regulator Act applies. The National Nuclear Regulator Act gives the National Nuclear Regulator powers to grant, amend and revoke authorisations, and to impose such conditions upon authorisation holders as it deems necessary. It establishes the basis for regulatory control by alluding to acceptable risk as the determinant. The legislation specifies that a holder of authorisation for any facility or activity that gives rise to radiation risks has the prime responsibility for safety and is liable for any nuclear damage caused by their facility or activities.
The National Nuclear Regulator is directly accountable to parliament through the Minister of Energy on nuclear and radiation safety issues and operates independently of Government, to the extent that it is able to carry out its mandate without undue influence.
We function independently from governmental departments or agencies and other organizations or bodies charged with the promotion of nuclear technologies or responsible for facilities or activities. The primary reason for this independence is to ensure that regulatory decisions can be made, and regulatory enforcement actions taken, without pressure from interests that may conflict with safety. The credibility of the National Nuclear Regulator as a regulator is assured through its independence from the organizations it regulates and the promoters of nuclear technology. The National Nuclear Regulator retains its independence as a safety authority and is protected from undue pressure. Safety is the key mission of the regulator personnel.
The National Nuclear Regulator is primarily mandated to monitor and enforce regulatory safety standards for the achievement of safe operating conditions, prevention of nuclear accidents or mitigation of nuclear accident consequences, resulting in the protection of workers, public, property and the environment against the potential harmful effects of ionizing radiation or radioactive material.
To fulfil its mandate, the National Nuclear Regulator advocates the development and maintenance of appropriate regulatory frameworks for enforcing regulatory radiation safety standards which are consistent with the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) and the International Atomic Agency (IAEA).
The National Nuclear Regulator’s approach to regulatory functions is commensurate with the radiation risks associated with a specific facility or activity. These include functions such as safety case reviews and assessments, authorisations, compliance assurance inspections, enforcement, drafting of regulatory documents and overseeing emergency planning and preparedness.
The National Nuclear Regulator is strengthening its capacity to enable efficient delivery of regulatory services for current operating plant, new nuclear build, decommissioning and waste management, and fuel cycle services. Over the last three years, the National Nuclear Regulator has been engaged in a very important initiative to establish the 1st Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Safety and Security(CNSS) in South Africa, in partnership with local and international academic institutions as well as other relevant stakeholders. Currently, South Africa does not have a dedicated centre or institution for nuclear safety which provides, among other needs, a continuous supply of personnel trained in nuclear safety to serve the needs of the nuclear regulatory body and the nuclear industry in general. Other needs identified, include provision of continuous professional development programmes in Nuclear Safety, undertaking of Nuclear Safety research to support regulatory activities and decision making, as well as provision to technical support services in Nuclear Safety to the regulatory body and nuclear industry.
The CNSS is the first applied research and training establishment dedicated to developing essential skills demanded by South Africa’s nuclear sector outside the traditional university sector. It will house training facilities for National Nuclear Regulator staff, a selection of state-of –the-art irradiation and analysis equipment for researchers and students to use, including analytical and inspection laboratories, computer modelling facilities, meeting and seminar rooms and office accommodation.
Most importantly, the combination of facilities and divers expertise, which will be available through a network of collaborations with local and international institutions, will complement and significantly expand the nuclear research and education capability of South Africa’s academic institutions by providing universities the opportunity to enrich the scope and value of their research programmes. It is envisaged that this will increase the number of Masters, Doctoral and post-Doctoral graduates produced by local institutions and support the creation of knowledge based economy.