Does SETA Offer Free Courses in South Africa? Your 2025 Guide to Skills Training
📍 Introduction: Education That Doesn’t Cost a Cent
In a world where education often comes with a hefty price tag, one question stands out for many South Africans:
Does SETA offer free courses?
The answer is a hopeful yes.
Across South Africa, Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) are providing free and accessible learning opportunities to empower unemployed youth, upskill workers, and build stronger communities. Whether you’re a school-leaver, job-seeker, or employed professional looking to grow, SETA courses offer a bridge to better prospects—without the financial burden.
Let’s walk through how these programs work, where to find them, and how you can access free, accredited skills development opportunities in 2025.
🌱 A Story of Opportunity: Lerato’s Breakthrough
Lerato, a 26-year-old from the Eastern Cape, had completed high school but couldn’t afford tertiary education. After a year of job hunting with no luck, she discovered free entrepreneurship short courses offered by the Services SETA online platform.
Within months, she had completed the course, developed a small business plan, and was later selected for a learnership in business administration.
Today, she runs a home-based bakery employing two people.
Lerato’s journey is one of thousands made possible through SETA’s free learning initiatives.
🔍 What Are SETAs and Why Do They Offer Free Courses?
SETA stands for Sector Education and Training Authority. There are 21 SETAs in South Africa, each responsible for training and skills development in a specific economic sector—such as health, construction, education, finance, and more.
These organisations are government-backed and funded to:
- Facilitate skills development
- Offer bursaries, learnerships, and internships
- Create training standards and curricula
- Ensure accredited providers deliver quality learning
Because they are funded through levies collected from employers, SETAs are able to subsidise or fully fund various courses, making them free for learners, especially those who are unemployed.
🧭 Where to Find Free SETA Courses in 2025
Let’s explore the 6 main ways you can access free SETA-funded training.
1. ✅ Through SETA-Accredited Training Providers
Many SETAs collaborate with private and public institutions that are formally accredited to deliver their programs. These training providers often offer:
- Full qualifications (e.g. NCV, NATED)
- Skills programs
- Short courses
- Learnerships
Most of these are fully funded by SETA grants and free for qualifying learners.
How to Find Them:
- Visit the relevant SETA’s website
- Look under “Accredited Providers” or “Training Partners”
- Filter by province or qualification
📌 Example:
Services SETA has a full database of accredited training providers on www.serviceseta.org.za
2. 🌐 Free Courses on SETA Online Platforms
Some SETAs, like the Services SETA, have launched online learning portals that offer free self-paced courses, especially for entrepreneurship, digital skills, and business development.
Best of all, these platforms are often zero-rated, meaning:
- No mobile data is required
- You can access them using smartphones, tablets, or computers
- The courses are interactive and video-based
Popular Free Online SETA Courses Include:
- Introduction to Entrepreneurship
- Starting a Small Business
- Customer Service Essentials
- Basic Financial Literacy
✅ These certificates are valid, verifiable, and can boost your CV.
3. 🤝 Learnerships: Work + Study at No Cost
A learnership is a structured work-based learning program that combines:
- Theoretical training (from an accredited provider)
- Practical on-the-job experience (at a company)
These programs are:
- Registered with the relevant SETA
- Free for learners
- Often come with a monthly stipend
- Lead to nationally recognised qualifications
Who Can Apply?
- If you’re employed, you can ask your employer to register you
- If you’re unemployed, you can apply via:
- The SETA learner portal
- Training providers
- Job placement platforms that advertise learnerships
📌 Note: Many SETAs also run youth-focused recruitment drives to match unemployed learners with companies.
4. 💼 SETAs Offering Sector-Specific Free Training
Each SETA has its own projects and targeted training initiatives. Here are a few examples:
🏥 HWSETA (Health and Welfare SETA)
- Focuses on the health, social development, and veterinary sectors
- Offers bursaries, internships, and free caregiver training
- Ideal for learners wanting to work in nursing, community health, or social work
🎓 ETDP SETA (Education, Training, and Development Practices)
- Offers free educator development courses
- Supports training in assessment, facilitation, and curriculum development
📦 Services SETA
- Offers online courses in entrepreneurship, marketing, and customer service
- Provides funding for learnerships in business services and cleaning/hospitality
5. 📘 Free Learning Materials and Curriculum
Even if you’re not registered in a formal course, you can still access SETA curriculum materials for free.
Where to Find Them:
- Some providers publish these resources on public platforms like:
- These include:
- Learner guides
- Workplace logbooks
- Portfolio of evidence templates
These are great for self-study, revision, or planning your learning path.
6. 💡 Special Initiatives, Bursaries, and Community Programs
SETAs regularly roll out community-focused projects, including:
- Free skills training in rural areas
- Women and youth empowerment programs
- Artisan development projects
- Digital and 4IR (Fourth Industrial Revolution) skills bootcamps
These are often short-term projects, so keep an eye on:
- Local newspapers
- SETA social media pages
- Community halls and youth offices
📢 SETAs sometimes partner with municipalities, TVET colleges, and NGOs to reach more learners.
📝 How to Register for Free SETA Courses
To register for free SETA-funded programs:
- Visit the SETA website relevant to your industry
- Look for:
- “Programmes”
- “Learnerships”
- “Free Online Courses”
- Register on the learner portal (e.g., Services SETA Portal)
- Submit required documents:
- ID
- CV
- Highest qualification
- Proof of residence (if requested)
Alternatively, visit an accredited provider near you and ask about SETA-funded programs open to the public.
📊 Summary Table: How to Access Free SETA Courses
| Access Method | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited Providers | Classroom-based, in-person skills training | Free |
| SETA Online Portals | Self-paced, certificate-bearing e-learning | Free |
| Learnerships | Paid work + study programs | Free + Stipend |
| Sector Initiatives | Special focus programs (e.g., health, education) | Free |
| Learning Materials | Curriculum documents for self-study | Free |
| Bursaries | For formal qualifications (TVET/University) | Free |
🔐 Final Thoughts: Empowering South Africans Through Free Education
The myth that “education is expensive” is slowly being shattered by SETAs in South Africa. Through free, nationally recognised courses, thousands of South Africans are gaining the skills and confidence to launch careers, start businesses, and uplift their communities.
Whether you’re fresh out of school, stuck in unemployment, or looking to upskill—SETAs offer real opportunities at no cost.
But you have to take the first step.
Visit your SETA, register online, and begin your journey towards a better future—one free course at a time.
