Unemployed young South Africans studying in Skills Development programmes backed by the Services SETA are once again concerned about the prospect of delayed stipends, slow certification and general mismanagement, highlighting potential pitfalls for learners even before a skills programme starts.
The concerns come at a time when the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) is itself grappling with challenges in programme implementation after announcing the launch of a Project Management Unit in April 2026. The new unit was created to address problems such as project implementation delays, slow learner certification and irregular stipend payments.
The row erupted after reports on September 2, 2026, that hundreds of learners in state-sponsored skills-development programmes had faced “significant disruption” to their training. One of the programmes involved was a learner employment scheme backed by Services SETA which had recruited 470 students for a 16-month project management occupational certificate at the South West Gauteng TVET College campuses in Soweto, Roodepoort and Randburg.
Why does Services SETA matter to learners?
For an unemployed learner, getting accepted into a learnership or occupational programme can represent more than just the prospect of obtaining a qualification.
The learner can expect to receive a stipend, obtain valuable training, gain work experience and be placed in a job after completing the qualification. However, the chain of events can be disrupted by something as simple as a slow or irregular stipend payment, which can derail a learner’s ability to get to training or even to feed their families.
Similarly, slow or irregular certification can challenge a learner’s ability to gain employment after completing the qualification. This is why the issues raised by learners of the Services SETA matter.
Stipend delays are a major issue, says Services SETA
Irregular stipend payments have been identified by the Services SETA as a problem in its learner employment schemes that require addressing. This is evident in the announcement by the agency in April 2026 that a new Project Management Unit would be established to among other things, improve “financial management and project implementation”.
This issue was brought to the fore after problems emerged in the project management occupational qualification course which involved 470 learners as previously mentioned. According to reports on September 2, 2026, learners were told to stop attending classes because their July and August stipends of R5,000 had not been paid. The matter is currently before the courts but it is understood that payments were made to the learners between Thursday and Friday after queries from the Sunday Times and Services SETA.
Services SETA administrator Lehlogonolo Masoga said on Friday that payments for the learners had been made and that the course would continue. According to Masoga, the organisation had sent a formal legal notice to the implementing partner demanding that payments be made to the learners.
It is important that learners understand that even if they get accepted into a course, not everything is smooth from the get-go.
Slow certification process can frustrate learners
Another issue raised by the Services SETA in its recent announcements about the new Project Management Unit is slow learner certification.
For a learner, certification is an integral part of a qualification. Without it, the learner cannot demonstrate that they have acquired the occupational skills envisioned in the qualification.
It is therefore important for learners to understand that even if they complete a course, there are administrative procedures that need to be followed before they can present themselves as certified in the occupational field.
The Services SETA is also concerned about the problem and has noted that the new Project Management Unit will among other things, “enhance project governance, accountability and impact through effective project-cycle management and improved implementation of SETA-funded projects”.
Registration can also be a hurdle
While financial and certification irregularities are of great concern, there are also administrative hurdles that can challenge the smooth rollout of a training programme.
Parliament’s Higher Education Portfolio Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie recently noted that SETAs can be slow in registering learners on their systems, causing unnecessary delays in the process. This can add to the frustration of an unemployed learner who has decided to pursue a qualification but is now faced with unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
It also raises the question of who is accountable if something goes wrong. Is it the training provider, the implementing partner, the SETA or one of the other government agencies that fund the skills development programmes?
Governance issues run deep in the SETA system
The issues currently facing the Services SETA cannot be viewed in isolation. There have been a number of criticisms of the SETA system and in particular the Services SETA over the years. The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has investigated a number of alleged irregularities in the governance of the entity and the management of its learners.
In one of the investigations, allegations were made about an irregular contract in relation to a biometric attendance system at a number of training establishments. The report also raised concerns about the disbursement of learner stipends, with learners complaining that payments had been delayed on a number of occasions. These issues date back several years and should not be used to infer that all aspects of the Services SETA are flawed.
OUTA has also previously raised concerns about certification and qualifications, with allegations made in 2018 about certificates not being registered with the South African Qualifications Authority. The allegations should also not be used to infer that all qualifications issued by the Services SETA are invalid.
The point being made here is that while there are concerns about the Services SETA’s management and governance, the issues raised by learners and others should not be used to paint all SETA programmes with the same brush.
Services SETA acknowledges need for improvement
The Services SETA acknowledges the need to improve the delivery of its programmes. According to an announcement on April 15, 2026, the organisation held a Project Management and Grants Delivery Workshop at the Holiday Inn in Pretoria on April 15, 2026, to announce the launch of its Project Management Unit.
The organisation identified a number of areas that needed improvement, including project completion, certification of learners and stipend payments.
The organisation’s emphasis was on improved oversight and financial management as opposed to simply focusing on the volume of learners placed in employment.
This is an important point considering the number of unemployed South Africans that need skills to get a job. While the headline figure of learners placed in jobs is important, the organisation needs to ensure that the learners get the training they need and that they can complete the programmes successfully and with the required documentation to demonstrate their skills.
Completing a learnership does not guarantee a job
Another issue that needs to be raised in relation to SETA programmes and learnerships is that completing such a qualification does not guarantee a permanent position in most cases.
South Africa needs more jobs, but an employer will decide how many new positions they are willing to create. This means that learners that have completed a learnership should not be surprised if they are offered a temporary position as opposed to a permanent post.
Applicants should be wary of companies or individuals claiming that they can guarantee a job at the end of a SETA-funded programme.
A legitimate opportunity will provide training, a qualification and the opportunity to gain work experience. It may even provide a stipend to support the learner during the training period. However, a job offer at the end of the qualification should be scrutinised carefully because it may not be permanent.
What should learners do if something goes wrong?
When things start going wrong in a training programme, the first thing that learners should do is to ensure that they have documentary evidence of everything that has taken place.
They should save and store the following documents and records:
- The advert or offer letter that got them into the programme.
- The learner agreement.
- Proof of registration.
- Attendance registers.
- Assessments.
- Your ID and other documents that may have been submitted.
- Stipend records.
- Any emails, letters or messages sent to the training provider.
- Any responses sent by the training provider or SETA.
- Any notices about changes to the programme.
Having this information will assist in establishing what has happened and what is supposed to happen. It is also important to understand the difference between who is running the training programme and who is funding it. The two may not be the same entity and learners need to know who to approach in the event of a problem.
In fact, reports about the disruptions to the Services SETA project management programme indicate that learners were in fact supposed to follow certain communication channels before approaching the SETA directly. These channels include contacting their service provider and project management structures before taking any other steps.
What should prospective Services SETA learners ask?
Prospective learners should understand that when they see an advert for a SETA-funded programme, there are a number of things that they need to consider. In addition to asking about the stipend, they should ask:
Who is delivering the training? Prospective learners should get the name of the training provider and verify that the SETA-funded programme is legitimate.
What qualification will I receive? The advert should state the qualification, occupational programme or skills training being offered.
How long will the programme last? Applicants should get details about the duration of the training as well as the classroom, work-place and practical components.
Will I get a stipend? Not all SETA programmes provide a stipend and if they do, the amounts can vary between different courses. Learners should enquire about the amount of the stipend applicable to the course they are interested in and understand that it may be subject to approval.
Where will the training take place? Prospective learners should confirm the location of the training before they commit to the course.
What supporting documents will I need to provide? Learners should retain copies of all the documents they provide to the training provider.
What happens after I complete the training? Learners should ask whether the training includes exposure or placement, but remember that it does not necessarily guarantee employment unless it is stated otherwise.
Broader lessons for South Africa’s unemployed youth
The issues affecting the Services SETA programmes are yet another challenge for South Africa’s unemployed youth. Skills-development opportunities can open the door for new job seekers. However, the opportunities must be properly resourced if they are to meet their objectives.
Learnerships and occupational programmes require funding, and the monies need to reach the designated training providers so that they can support the learners. The learners for their part need to complete the training successfully and meet the requirements set by the SETA so that they can gain the qualifications and get jobs.
The challenges currently facing the Service SETA and those that have been raised in the past by OUTA are worrying considering the number of learners that need skills to get jobs.
It is therefore vital that the concerns raised by learners are taken seriously and that the necessary steps are taken to ensure that the malaise affecting the Service SETA is addressed.
The establishment of the new Project Management Unit is a step in the right direction, but it remains to be seen how it will affect the day-to-day operations of the training providers and the learners that need skills to get a job.
Author and reporting note
This article was written independently by the author and uses verified information from the Services SETA, TimesLIVE/Sunday Times reports and Organisational Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) investigations. The article does not quote directly from any of the resources and highlights the differences between confirmed information, allegations and reports.
Editorial policy
The article aims to provide South Africans with independent information and avoids allegations against individuals, companies or organisations where there is insufficient evidence. Information has been verified against primary and reliable secondary sources and the author’s interpretation of events has been highlighted where necessary.
Readers are encouraged to conduct independent research on matters contained in this article and refer to the most recent information available from an organisation or individual prior to making decisions.
Disclaimer
This publication is for informational purposes and should not be considered an official document by Services SETA, the Department of Higher Education and Training or any training provider or Skills Development organisation. Programmes, payments, deadlines and administrative procedures can change and readers are encouraged to consult the most updated information from an organisation directly.
Awareness: Skills development opportunities are not a guarantee of employment. Anyone requesting money in exchange for a guaranteed placement should be viewed with caution and applicants are encouraged to do their research before submitting personal details or payments.
