Skills Development

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has called on the private sector, labour organisations and civil society to work with government to transform South Africa’s skills system and tackle unemployment.

The government has launched a new 4IR Lab that is aimed at boosting skills development, and preparing young people for the jobs of the future.  

Organisations across sectors continue to report persistent skills shortages, yet a large and capable segment of the population remains excluded from meaningful economic participation, says Afri Training Institute.

Employers using learnerships as part of their Skills Development and B-BBEE strategies are being urged to act now, as the registration of legacy learnerships is coming to an end.

At the recent 2026 Mining Skills Lekgotla the head of the Council for Geoscience, highlighted the central role of geoscience and skills development in shaping a modern mining sector.  

Skills Development planning is no longer viewed as an administrative compliance exercise under South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) framework, with companies now expected to demonstrate clear alignment between training initiatives and measurable transformation outcomes.

The South African government has reaffirmed its commitment to technical skills development following the graduation of 600 refrigeration and air-conditioning servicing technicians and 35 trainers.

Across Africa, organisations are talking loudly about skills shortages, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. What’s less clear is whether the way we build and sustain technology talent is genuinely keeping pace with that conversation.

The Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) commemorated its 30th anniversary at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, underscoring three decades of advancing skills development in South Africa’s mining and minerals sector.

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has given more details about the progress made by administrators appointed to stabilise three of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

With the conclusion of the recent 2026 Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, it became evident that the trajectory of the mining sector will be determined not only by mineral endowments, but by the strength of skills development and collaborative partnerships.

The Mining Skills Lekgotla will bring together key stakeholders across the mining and minerals sector for a high-impact, two-day consultative engagement, providing a unique opportunity to collectively shape the future of skills development in the industry. 

The Services Seta has opened their Special Projects application period which is available to companies and organisations that are running projects to support employment and development with targeted groups including youth, women and veterans. 

Minister Buti Manamela has announced the appointment of new SETA Accounting Authorities, effective 30 September 2025, strengthening governance and aligning skills development with national priorities.

The Police's Special Investigating Unit (SIU) will be investigating allegations of serious maladministration at the National Skills Fund - as well as allegations of unlawful conduct by officials, and potential mismanagement of NSF funds.

The concept of career success has evolved significantly over time. Once defined by a linear progression within a single field, it now centres on continual growth, adaptability, and personal achievement. For professionals navigating an ever-changing job market, staying relevant often requires expanding skill sets and exploring new opportunities. 

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How do you select training providers and how do you ensure that providers deliver quality programmes? Suzanne Hattingh draws on her experience with government departments, companies and training providers to present some answers.

For employees who have been performing in a job for many years without any formal qualifications for what they do, recognition of prior learning (RPL) is good news. But Mark Orpen from the Institute of People Development explains that there are strong spin-offs for the employer as well.