If you are searching for a learnership, apprenticeship, bursary, internship, skills programme or workplace training opportunity in South Africa, understanding the SETA system can make your search more focused.

South Africa has 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), with each responsible for skills development within a particular economic sector. The official list is maintained by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

The important point is that there is no single “SETA opportunity” that suits everyone. The relevant SETA usually depends on the industry or career field you want to enter.

For example, someone interested in mining should look at the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA), while someone pursuing agriculture should understand AgriSETA.

This guide explains all 21 SETAs and how students, graduates, unemployed young people and aspiring artisans can use the SETA system when researching opportunities for 2026 and 2027.

Quick Overview

Information	Details
What does SETA mean?	Sector Education and Training Authority
Number of SETAs	21
Responsible department	Department of Higher Education and Training
Main focus	Sector-based skills development and training
Opportunities	Vary by SETA, programme and funding window
Suitable for	Learners, students, graduates, workers and job seekers
2026/2027 applications	Depend on individual programmes
Universal SETA application	No

DHET’s current information confirms that the South African skills-development system includes 21 SETAs.

What Is a SETA?

SETA stands for Sector Education and Training Authority.

SETAs are organised around different sectors of the South African economy and play a role in skills development within those sectors.

This means the SETA relevant to you will generally depend on the career or industry you are interested in.

For instance:

• Agriculture → AgriSETA
• Banking → BANKSETA
• Construction → CETA
• Education and training → ETDP SETA
• Energy and water → EWSETA
• Finance and accounting → FASSET
• Healthcare and welfare → HWSETA
• Manufacturing and engineering → merSETA
• Information and communication technology → MICT SETA
• Mining → MQA
• Transport → TETA
• Wholesale and retail → W&RSETA

The official DHET directory provides the recognised SETAs and their contact information.

What Opportunities Can SETAs Support?

SETAs are associated with different forms of skills development. The exact opportunities available depend on the SETA, programme, employer, training provider and funding arrangements.

Learnerships

Learnerships combine structured learning with practical workplace experience and can be linked to registered qualifications or occupational pathways.

Requirements differ between individual programmes.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are particularly relevant to people pursuing technical and artisan careers.

Depending on the programme, training can combine theoretical learning with practical workplace experience.

Bursaries

Some SETAs provide or support funding opportunities for students studying in areas connected to their sectors.

However, not every SETA bursary is available every year, and eligibility requirements differ.

Skills Programmes

Skills programmes generally focus on specific competencies rather than providing a broad qualification pathway.

The duration, requirements and outcomes depend on the individual programme.

Workplace-Based Learning

SETAs also play a role in workplace-based learning and placements. In June 2026, DHET said SETAs help facilitate the placement of approximately 21,000 TVET students in workplaces annually.

This makes the SETA system particularly relevant to TVET students who need workplace experience.

The 21 SETAs in South Africa

1. AgriSETA

Sector: Agriculture

AgriSETA covers skills development connected to agriculture and related activities.

Career areas can include farming, plant production, animal production, horticulture, agricultural services and other agricultural occupations.

Best suited to: People interested in agriculture, farming and related careers.

2. BANKSETA

Sector: Banking and financial services

BANKSETA focuses on skills development within the banking sector.

Relevant career areas can include banking operations, financial services, risk, compliance and related occupations.

Best suited to: People interested in banking and financial services.

3. CATHSSETA

Sector: Culture, arts, tourism, hospitality and sport

CATHSSETA covers a diverse group of industries, including tourism, hospitality, sport, recreation, conservation, arts and culture.

Best suited to: People interested in tourism, hotels, hospitality, sport, conservation and related fields.

4. CETA

Sector: Construction

CETA focuses on construction and related built-environment skills.

Career areas can include construction trades, building, civil engineering-related occupations and other construction activities.

Best suited to: Aspiring construction workers, technicians and artisans.

5. CHIETA

Sector: Chemical industries

CHIETA covers the chemical industries sector and related activities.

This can include areas connected to chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, petroleum, plastics and other related industries.

Best suited to: People pursuing technical, scientific and industrial careers.

6. ETDP SETA

Sector: Education, training and development

ETDP SETA covers education, training and development-related activities.

It can be relevant to people interested in areas such as education, training, adult learning and skills development.

Best suited to: People interested in education and training careers.

7. EWSETA

Sector: Energy and water

EWSETA covers skills development connected to the energy and water sectors.

Relevant areas can include electricity, renewable energy, water services, sanitation and technical occupations.

Best suited to: People interested in energy, electricity, water and technical careers.

8. FASSET

Sector: Finance and accounting services

FASSET focuses on finance and accounting-related services.

Relevant career fields can include accounting, auditing, taxation, bookkeeping and financial services.

Best suited to: Accounting, finance and related students and graduates.

9. FoodBev SETA

Sector: Food and beverage manufacturing

FoodBev SETA covers food and beverage manufacturing.

This can include areas such as food processing, baking, dairy, beverages, production and related manufacturing activities.

Best suited to: People interested in food manufacturing and production.

10. FP&M SETA

Sector: Fibre processing and manufacturing

FP&M SETA covers a broad manufacturing sector that includes areas such as textiles, clothing, forestry, furniture, footwear, leather, printing and related activities.

Best suited to: People interested in manufacturing, textiles, forestry, printing and furniture-related careers.

11. HWSETA

Sector: Health and welfare

HWSETA covers health and welfare-related skills development.

It can be relevant to healthcare support, social development, welfare and related occupations.

Best suited to: People interested in health, welfare and social-development careers.

12. INSETA

Sector: Insurance

INSETA focuses on the insurance sector.

Career areas can include insurance administration, claims, underwriting, risk and other insurance-related functions.

Best suited to: People interested in insurance and related financial services.

13. LGSETA

Sector: Local government

LGSETA is associated with skills development within local government.

Relevant areas can include municipal administration, governance, municipal finance, infrastructure and community services.

Best suited to: People interested in municipal and local-government careers.

14. merSETA

Sector: Manufacturing, engineering and related services

merSETA is particularly relevant to engineering, manufacturing, automotive and artisan-related career pathways.

It is an important SETA for people considering technical and manufacturing careers.

Best suited to: TVET engineering students, aspiring artisans and manufacturing-sector applicants.

15. MICT SETA

Sector: Media, information and communication technologies

MICT SETA covers media, advertising, information and communication technologies.

Relevant fields can include information technology, telecommunications, digital technology, media and related occupations.

Best suited to: People interested in IT, technology, telecommunications and digital careers.

16. MQA

Sector: Mining

The Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) focuses on skills development within the mining and minerals sector.

Relevant areas can include mining, mineral processing, mining engineering-related occupations, geology and mine health and safety.

Best suited to: People interested in mining and mining-related technical careers.

17. PSETA

Sector: Public service

PSETA covers skills development associated with the public service.

Relevant areas can include public administration, government management, governance, finance and other public-sector functions.

Best suited to: People interested in public administration and government-related careers.

18. SASSETA

Sector: Safety and security

SASSETA covers the safety and security sector.

Its sector includes areas associated with policing, corrections, private security, justice and related services.

Individual careers and government positions have their own recruitment requirements.

Best suited to: People interested in safety, security, justice and related fields.

19. Services SETA

Sector: Services

Services SETA covers a broad range of service-sector activities.

Relevant areas can include business services, project management, marketing, contact centres, cleaning and other service occupations.

Best suited to: Applicants interested in service-sector careers.

20. TETA

Sector: Transport

TETA covers transport-related industries.

Its sector includes areas associated with road freight, passenger transport, rail, maritime, aviation-related activities, logistics and freight handling.

Best suited to: People interested in transport, logistics and related careers.

21. W&RSETA

Sector: Wholesale and retail

W&RSETA covers the wholesale and retail sector.

Relevant career areas can include retail, sales, merchandising, distribution, supply-chain activities and retail management.

Best suited to: People looking for careers in wholesale, retail and related businesses.

The 21 SETAs listed above correspond with the current DHET directory and the South African Government’s education and skills-development directory.

Which SETA Should You Choose?

You do not choose a SETA simply because you have seen its name attached to a learnership.

Start with the career field you want to enter.

Career interest	SETA to investigate
Agriculture	AgriSETA
Banking	BANKSETA
Tourism and hospitality	CATHSSETA
Construction	CETA
Chemical industries	CHIETA
Education and training	ETDP SETA
Energy and water	EWSETA
Accounting and finance	FASSET
Food manufacturing	FoodBev SETA
Textiles and forestry	FP&M SETA
Health and welfare	HWSETA
Insurance	INSETA
Local government	LGSETA
Engineering and manufacturing	merSETA
IT and telecommunications	MICT SETA
Mining	MQA
Public service	PSETA
Safety and security	SASSETA
Services	Services SETA
Transport and logistics	TETA
Wholesale and retail	W&RSETA

Can Matriculants Apply for SETA Opportunities?

Some SETA-funded programmes accept applicants with Grade 12/Matric, but there is no universal educational requirement across all 21 SETAs.

Individual programmes can specify requirements such as:

• Grade 10, 11 or 12
• Matric
• Specific school subjects
• N4, N5 or N6
• Diploma
• Degree
• Specific NQF level
• Relevant experience
• Other programme-specific requirements

Always use the requirements published for the particular opportunity.

What About TVET College Students?

TVET students should pay particular attention to SETA opportunities because sector-based skills development can include workplace-based learning, apprenticeships, learnerships and artisan-development pathways.

This is especially relevant to students who need practical workplace experience as part of their studies.

DHET has specifically highlighted collaboration between SETAs and the TVET system to facilitate workplace placements.

Are SETA Learnerships Paid?

There is no single payment amount for all SETA learnerships.

Some programmes may provide a stipend or allowance, while others have different funding arrangements.

The amount, if any, depends on the specific programme and its funding or employment arrangement.

Therefore, applicants should not assume that every SETA learnership pays the same amount.

Always check the original opportunity advertisement before relying on claims about stipends.

How to Apply for SETA Opportunities

There is no universal application form for all SETA opportunities.

Depending on the programme, applications may be managed by a SETA, employer, training provider, TVET college, university, municipality, government department or another implementing organisation.

A practical approach is:

1. Identify your career field.
2. Identify the relevant SETA.
3. Find a specific programme.
4. Check whether applications are open.
5. Read the eligibility requirements.
6. Prepare the requested documents.
7. Apply using the official method provided.
8. Keep proof of submission where possible.
9. Continue looking for other suitable opportunities.

Documents to Prepare

Requirements differ, but applicants may encounter requests for documents such as:

• Updated CV
• South African ID
• Matric certificate
• Academic records
• TVET certificates or results
• N4, N5 or N6 results
• Diploma or degree certificate
• Proof of residence
• Driver’s licence where specifically required
• Motivation letter where requested

Do not send documents that have not been requested, and follow the exact instructions in each official advertisement.

Important: A SETA Does Not Mean an Application Is Open

This is one of the most important things applicants should understand.

Knowing that a programme belongs to a particular SETA does not mean that applications are currently open.

Funding cycles, employers and training providers have different recruitment periods.

Before applying, confirm:

• Is the opportunity currently open?
• Who is recruiting?
• What is the closing date?
• What are the eligibility requirements?
• Where must you apply?
• Which documents are required?

This distinction can help prevent applicants from confusing general information about a sector or qualification with an active opportunity.

How to Find Legitimate SETA Opportunities

Use official sources wherever possible.

The Department of Higher Education and Training maintains information about the 21 SETAs, including links and contact details.

Applicants should also check the website of the relevant SETA and the official employer or training provider named in an advertisement.

Be particularly careful when an opportunity:

• Requests an unexplained application fee.
• Asks you to pay someone to secure a position.
• Uses an unofficial email address without explanation.
• Promises guaranteed employment.
• Provides requirements that conflict with the official advertisement.

If you are unsure, verify the opportunity directly with the relevant organisation.

Final Thoughts

South Africa’s 21 SETAs provide an important part of the country’s skills-development system, but applicants should not treat the SETA system as one large job or learnership application portal.

The smarter approach is to start with your career goal, identify the relevant sector, understand the SETA responsible for that sector and then search for specific programmes that match your qualifications and circumstances.

Whether you are a matriculant, TVET student, graduate, unemployed job seeker or aspiring artisan, knowing which SETA covers your field can make your opportunity search more organised.

Most importantly, always verify the specific programme, requirements, closing date and application method before submitting an application.

Official Source

The Department of Higher Education and Training publishes the official list of South Africa’s SETAs and their contact information.

Official DHET SETA directory: Department of Higher Education and Training – SETAs

South African Government education, training and skills-development directory: South African Government – Education, Training and Skills Development

Related Youthscope Content

• SETA learnership opportunities
• Apprenticeships in South Africa
• TVET College opportunities
• Bursaries for South African students
• Internships for graduates
• Work Integrated Learning opportunities
• Skills programmes and training opportunities

Author Information

Written by Mbalizuke Nkosi

Published: September 2026
Last updated: September 2026
Information checked: September 2026

Youthscope content is written to help South African students, graduates and job seekers understand education, training and career opportunities using clear, applicant-focused information.