By Charmaine Ndlela
The Services Sector Education and Training Authority has launched a renewed drive to stabilise and strengthen South Africa’s skills development system, introducing a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) to tackle inefficiencies in programme delivery.
The initiative was unveiled at a Project Management and Grants Delivery Workshop held at the CSIR Conference Centre on Wednesday, bringing together government officials, sector stakeholders and project management experts to address persistent implementation challenges.
Held under the theme “A reform from bureaucratic red tape to a strategic, compliant enabler for meaningful impact”, the workshop marked the first formal engagement supporting the newly established PMU.
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The unit is expected to play a central role in improving governance, compliance and the delivery of funded programmes — a move seen as critical to restoring institutional credibility while the entity remains under administration.
Services SETA administrator Lehlogonolo Masoga described the intervention as a turning point for the organisation, urging stakeholders to move beyond acknowledging challenges and focus on implementation.
“This should be treated as a clarion call to recommit and act on the lessons learned for the betterment of all beneficiaries and stakeholders,” Masoga said.
In his closing remarks, Masoga called for an industry-wide masterclass led by Project Management South Africa to strengthen project management capacity across the sector.
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“There is no SETA that does not need project management capabilities. We will support all SETAs by providing a training platform for everyone, and this will be sponsored by Services SETA,” he said.
The sector has faced ongoing challenges, including delays in project completion, certification backlogs and inefficiencies in grant disbursement — issues that have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the broader SETA system.
As the entity responsible for facilitating skills development through learnerships, internships and training programmes, Services SETA plays a key role in bridging the gap between education and employment.
Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mimmy Gondwe emphasised the need to shift the focus of skills development from inputs to outcomes.
“Billions of rands are invested annually into training initiatives, but without effective implementation and accountability, these investments fail to translate into meaningful employment opportunities,” she said.
She urged stakeholders to prioritise delivery and measurable impact.
“The success of the skills development system will not be measured by how much we fund, but by how effectively we deliver, complete and demonstrate impact.”
