About Us – Services SETA Website

What We Do

Our primary function is to facilitate skills development through learning programmes like learnerships, skills programmes, internships and other learning programmes. We do this by disbursing grants to employers and skills development providers to offer training to employed and unemployed learners. As delegated by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), our role includes overseeing occupation-based training.

People of all ages need to learn new skills. Others are already working but need to develop their skills and advance their careers. Others require new skills to gain employment.

The services sector contributes more than a quarter of South Africa’s GDP, with more than 3 million people employed. For the sector to thrive and grow, it requires competent and skilled workers.

By facilitating and funding programmes that build skills-sets required by the services industries (the workplace), the Services SETA bridges the gap between formal education and training. To fulfil its functions, the Services SETA partners with public and private learning institutions to deliver the training required.

Our Vision, Mission & Values

Our Vision

A flourishing services sector that creates economic growth and inclusive opportunities for all South Africans.

Our Mission

To facilitate skills development for employment and entrepreneurship in the services sector,fostering economic growth.

The Services SETA upholds the following values:

Our Scope of Services

The Services SETA covers 70 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes that are divided into 16 subsectors, making it the largest SETA. Each of these subsectors is further divided into six chambers: The Services SETA covers 70 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes that are divided into 16 subsectors, making it the largest SETA. Each of these subsectors is further divided into six chambers.

Each chamber has a Chamber Committee made up of key industry players like associations, unions, professional bodies, and employers.

If you want to participate in chambers please contact the Chamber Managers for more information:

Legislative Framework

Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) are highly regulated entities. SETAs are established by the Skills Development Act No 97 of 1998. The funding of SETAs is regulated by the Skills Development Levies Act No 9 of 1999. The SETA must manage these funds in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and the related regulations, including the Supply Chain Management Regulations. These Acts are amended from time to time and such amendments need to be factored into the work of the Services SETA.

SETA’s work is also guided by the South African Qualifications Act No 58 of 1995. Under the Act, SETAs can be Education and Training Quality Assurers (ETQA).

The National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the 2008 amendments to the Skills Development Act (2008) established the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).

The SETAs contribute to the country’s National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, which emphasises the need for a skilled labour force to reduce poverty and promote equality. The National Skills Development Plan 2030 supports the NDP and has eight intended outcomes namely:

Identifying and increasing the production of occupations in high demand.
Linking education and the workplace.
Improving the level of skills in the South African workforce.
Increasing access to occupationally directed programmes.
Supporting the growth of the public college system.
Skills development support for entrepreneurship and cooperative development.
Encouraging and supporting worker-initiated training.
Supporting career development services.

Our Board

The Services SETA Board plays a vital governance role in ensuring accountability, strategic direction and alignment to the national skills development priorities.

In accordance with the Skills Development Act, the Board is constituted to reflect organised labour, organised employers, government departments, professional bodies and community organisations. Members are nominated through a public process and appointed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training.

Please note: The new Board is yet to be appointed by the Minister. This section will be updated once the appointments are finalised.