By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The Services SETA says R10 million will be allocated to each province to support Community Education and Training (CET) development.
The commitment was formally made on Tuesday during the launch of the National Adult Literacy for Empowerment Campaign 2026–2030, led by Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mimmy Gondwe at Lovedale TVET College in King William’s Town.
Gondwe emphasised the importance of CET colleges as key institutions for lifelong learning and second chances.
“If we are serious about repositioning CET Colleges as centres of lifelong learning and community renewal, then we must also be serious about investing in the conditions that will allow proper teaching and learning to flourish in our CET Colleges,” Gondwe said.
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“These institutions must become places where a young person who left school due to pregnancy can return with dignity; where an unemployed adult can acquire skills and training; where a grandmother can learn to read and write; and where a mineworker can gain digital skills.”
The R90 million commitment was first announced by Administrator, Lehlogonolo Masoga, during the launch of a R5 million infrastructure upgrade project at Mlandeleni Community Learning Centre in Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal, on Monday.
Thembinkosi Mosia, Manager for Real Estate and Related Services Chamber at Services SETA, reiterated the organisation’s dedication to driving change in the perception, quality and scope of education at CETs.
“The intervention supports Service SETA’s broader mandate, which includes skills development, economic development, rural and township development, and youth development,” Mosia said.
“Now is the time for CETs to receive the dignity, opportunity, and respect they deserve.”
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Services SETA said the National Adult Literacy for Empowerment Campaign aims to reach one million adult learners by 2030.
It responds to the challenge of approximately 3.8 million functionally illiterate adults in South Africa, and will deliver basic and functional literacy, numeracy, digital, financial, entrepreneurial and civic skills.
“The campaign will focus on rural, mining, and marginalised communities, where access to education and skills development remains critical,” Services SETA said.
Services SETA said its intervention will support needs-based improvements across CET colleges, including classrooms, workshops, ICT facilities, digital learning infrastructure, skills training spaces, refurbished facilities and enhanced learner support environments.
