If you’ve ever wanted to study further or gain a new qualification but couldn’t afford it, you’re not alone. Millions of South Africans are in exactly the same position — hungry to grow their careers but held back by the cost of training. Here’s the good news: there’s money sitting in a system designed specifically to help you, and most people have no idea how to access it. We’re talking about SETA funding.
Sector Education and Training Authorities — better known as SETAs — collect levies from employers every month, and a significant portion of that money is earmarked to fund skills development for South African workers. Whether you’re employed, unemployed, or somewhere in between, understanding how to tap into SETA funding could completely change your career trajectory — without costing you a cent.
This guide breaks it all down: what SETA funding is, who qualifies, how to apply, and how to make the most of every rand available to you.
What Exactly Is SETA Funding?
South Africa has 21 SETAs, each responsible for a specific economic sector. For example, MERSETA covers manufacturing, engineering, and related industries, while CATHSSETA deals with culture, arts, tourism, hospitality, and sport. Every employer with an annual payroll above R500,000 is legally required to pay a Skills Development Levy (SDL) of 1% of their payroll to SARS, which then distributes these funds to the relevant SETA.
This money is then used to:
- Fund learnerships and apprenticeships
- Pay for skills programmes and short courses
- Support internships and workplace experience programmes
- Fund bursaries for full qualifications
- Reimburse employers who invest in training their staff
In simple terms, there’s a pool of money collected from businesses, and it’s available to help South Africans train and develop their careers. The trick is knowing how to access it.
Who Can Access SETA Funding?
This is where most people get confused. SETA funding isn’t just for employed workers — though they do benefit significantly. Here’s a breakdown of who can benefit:
Employed Workers
If you’re currently employed, your employer is likely already paying Skills Development Levies. You can benefit from SETA funding through your workplace by asking your HR department or your company’s Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) about available training opportunities. Your employer may be able to claim back a portion of what they’ve paid in levies if they submit a Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and train you — which means they have a financial incentive to invest in your development.
Unemployed South Africans
Many SETAs run programmes specifically targeting unemployed youth and adults. These include learnerships, skills programmes, and internships that come with monthly stipends. You don’t need to be employed to apply — in fact, some programmes are exclusively for people who are not currently working.
Small Business Owners
If you run a small business and your payroll is above the threshold, you’re paying levies too. You can claim back a discretionary grant if you train your staff and submit the right paperwork. Even if you’re exempt from paying levies (payroll under R500,000), you can still apply for discretionary grants from your SETA.
Youth (18–35)
SETAs are required to prioritise youth in many of their funded programmes, especially learnerships and apprenticeships. If you’re between 18 and 35 years old, you’re in the sweet spot for most SETA-funded opportunities.
The Different Types of SETA Funding Available
SETA funding doesn’t come in just one format. Here are the main types of support you can access:
1. Mandatory Grants
Employers who submit a Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and an Annual Training Report (ATR) on time can reclaim 20% of the levies they’ve paid. This money must be used for training. If you’re an employee, this is where advocating for your own training comes in — your employer has a financial reason to say yes.
2. Discretionary Grants
This is the big one. SETAs distribute the remaining 49.5% of levy income as discretionary grants to fund learnerships, apprenticeships, skills programmes, bursaries, and internships. Applications are open to employers, training providers, and sometimes directly to individuals. Each SETA has its own application windows, usually announced on their website.
3. Learnerships
A learnership is a structured learning programme that combines theoretical training with practical workplace experience. It leads to a nationally recognised NQF qualification. Learners typically receive a monthly stipend (anywhere from R1,500 to R5,000+) while they train. Employers who take on learners can also claim tax incentives under Section 12H of the Income Tax Act.
4. Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are the trade equivalent of learnerships, specifically for artisan trades like plumbing, electrical work, boilermaking, and welding. These are funded through SETAs like MERSETA and EWSETA and often lead to a Trade Test qualification — one of the most in-demand credentials in South Africa right now.
5. Skills Programmes
These are shorter, unit standard-based programmes that don’t necessarily lead to a full qualification but add credits to your NQF record. They’re quicker to complete and funded through the same SETA system. Great for adding specific competencies to your profile without committing to a two-year learnership.
6. Bursaries
Some SETAs offer bursaries for full-time university or TVET college study in sectors they cover. FASSET, for example (the SETA for finance and accounting), offers bursaries for accounting students. These are competitive but genuinely life-changing if you qualify.
How to Find Out Which SETA Covers You
Your SETA is determined by the sector your employer (or prospective employer) operates in. Here’s a quick reference for some of the most active SETAs and the sectors they cover:
- MERSETA – Manufacturing, engineering, metallurgy, motor industry
- ETDP SETA – Education, training, and development
- CATHSSETA – Tourism, hospitality, arts, and culture
- FASSET – Finance, accounting, management consulting
- HWSETA – Health and welfare sector
- ICT SETA (MICT SETA) – Media, information, communication, and technology
- AgriSETA – Agriculture sector
- CETA – Construction industry
- INSETA – Insurance sector
- W&RSETA – Wholesale and retail trade
If you’re unemployed, you can apply to any SETA that covers a sector you’re interested in entering — you don’t have to be currently working in that field.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for SETA Funding
The process varies between SETAs, but here’s a general roadmap that works across most of them:
Step 1: Identify Your SETA
Use the DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training) website or simply Google the sector you work in followed by
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