Skills Development Levies Act, administered by 21 SETAs
SETA Discretionary Grants
Why SETAs are different
Every employer with an annual payroll above R500,000 pays a 1% Skills Development Levy to SARS. That levy is redirected to one of 21 industry authorities — the SETAs — which set annual priority skills for their sector and pay out discretionary grants against those. When you win a SETA bursary you are being funded by the industry you are training to join, not by DHET direct. That changes the shape of the bursary: it usually covers full tuition, a monthly living allowance, and often a workplace placement at a levy-paying employer inside the sector.
At a glance
Pick the SETA that matches your field
If you are unsure which SETA fits your study area, use this quick mapping. Each row links straight to the sector authority.
| SETA | Sector | Fields it commonly funds |
|---|---|---|
| MERSETA | Manufacturing, engineering, related services | Boilermaking, fitter and turner, mechatronics, tooling, auto trades |
| BANKSETA | Banking and micro-finance | BCom, financial modelling, actuarial, risk, data analytics |
| HWSETA | Health and social development | Nursing, paramedics, radiography, social work, pharmacy assistants |
| CHIETA | Chemical industries | Chemical engineering, analytical chemistry, process operators |
| ETDP-SETA | Education, training and development | Teaching, adult education, ECD practitioners, assessors |
| AgriSETA | Agriculture | Agricultural science, animal production, agri-processing |
| MICT-SETA | Media, ICT and telecommunications | Software development, cybersecurity, journalism, film production |
| TETA | Transport | Aviation, logistics, maritime, rail, road transport |
| W&RSETA | Wholesale & retail | Retail buying, merchandising, retail management |
| CETA | Construction | Bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing, civil engineering, quantity surveying |
| LGSETA | Local government | Municipal finance, planning, public administration |
| MQA | Mining and minerals | Mining engineering, metallurgy, mine survey, geology |
| Services SETA | Business services | Real estate, cleaning, funeral services, hairdressing, project management |
| FoodBev SETA | Food and beverages manufacturing | Food technology, brewing, dairy, packaging |
| SASSETA | Safety and security | Policing, private security, corrections, forensics, legal practice |
| PSETA | Public service | Public administration, monitoring & evaluation, procurement |
| INSETA | Insurance | Underwriting, claims, actuarial, insurance broking |
| CATHSSETA | Culture, arts, tourism, hospitality, sport | Hospitality, chef training, tour guiding, sports management |
| FASSET | Financial and accounting services | BCom Accounting, SAICA / SAIPA articles, tax, internal audit |
| EWSETA | Energy and water | Renewable energy, water treatment, electricians |
| FP&M SETA | Fibre processing and manufacturing | Textiles, printing, packaging, clothing manufacture, forestry |
Some fields overlap. If your programme touches two sectors, apply to both SETAs — each administers its own budget and you are not automatically excluded from one by winning the other.
Who a SETA usually funds
- South African citizens or permanent residents accepted to (or currently in) a sector-relevant qualification
- TVET N4-N6, NCV Level 4, university undergraduate, or postgraduate students in the SETA's priority skills list
- Learners paired with a levy-paying employer for a workplace placement (many SETAs require this)
- Applicants from designated groups where the SETA has an equity target for a given call
How to apply
- Identify the SETA that matches your qualification using the table above.
- Register a learner profile on the SETA's website. Some (BANKSETA, MERSETA, HWSETA) use the Indicium learner management system; others run their own.
- Watch for the sector call. Most SETAs open discretionary grant windows between August and January each year.
- Submit the application with certified ID, matric or highest qualification, proof of registration at your institution, and a short motivation letter.
- If offered a learnership, expect to sign a tripartite Learnership Agreement between yourself, the SETA, and the workplace employer.
- SETA pays your institution directly for tuition and disburses the learner allowance monthly into your bank account.
Insider tips that keep applications alive
- Line up an employer BEFORE the call opens. Learnership offers with a pre-arranged host employer are approved faster.
- Include your academic transcript, not just matric. SETAs look at trajectory, not only final results.
- If applying to a scarce-skills call, quote the SETA's own scarce-skills list back in your motivation letter — those exact words trigger the shortlisting filter.
- Do not submit generic copy-pasted applications across multiple SETAs. Each SETA has a unique application form and specific supporting document list.
Where to start
The DHET SETA directory lists all 21 authorities with current call information. General SDL queries go to the DHET call centre on 0800 872 222.