Services SETA - Personal & business services

Services SETA learnerships 2026: how to apply

Services SETA is SA's largest SETA - covering cleaning, security, hairdressing, real estate, business admin and more across 6 chambers. It also has SA's worst SETA fraud record - verify everything before paying anyone a cent.

Updated 17 May 2026 ·By GoCareers
Visit Services SETA learners
Chambers
6 (covering ~70 SIC codes)
Stipend
R2,500 - R6,500 / month
Learnership duration
12 months (most)
Status
Under administration (2025/26)
Head office
Parktown · 011 276 9600
Fraud reporting
Anti-Corruption Hotline 0800 701 701

Who can apply

  • South African citizen, ID required
  • Aged 18-35 (some employer programmes 18-25 or 18-29)
  • Currently unemployed (for SETA-funded discretionary grants)
  • Grade 10 minimum for Cleaning, Security and Personal Care NQF 1-3
  • Grade 12 (Matric) for Business Admin NQF 4, Generic Management, Real Estate, Project Management
  • Specific maths/literacy at NQF 3 required for Real Estate
  • Disability programmes get priority placement

What you'll need

  • Certified copy of SA ID (≤6 months old)
  • Certified copy of Matric or highest qualification
  • Updated CV
  • Proof of residence
  • Bank confirmation letter (for stipend EFT)
  • SARS tax number
  • Medical declaration / disability documentation (where relevant)
  • Proof of unemployment (affidavit) for unemployed-learner programmes

Step by step

  1. Register on the Services SETA Learner Portal

    Create a profile at servicesseta.org.za/learners with your ID, email and cell number. Many employers also use the LMIS at lmis.servicesseta.org.za to match learners.

  2. Identify a specific learnership advert

    Three routes: accredited Skills Development Providers (SDPs), employer-driven adverts, or SA Youth at sayouth.mobi. The SDP route is the most common.
    Tip: Always verify the SDP at <a href='https://lmis.servicesseta.org.za/Home/SDPSearch' target='_blank' rel='noopener nofollow'>lmis.servicesseta.org.za/Home/SDPSearch</a> before sending documents. Fake "SDPs" are common in this sector.

  3. Submit your application

    CV + certified ID + certified Matric / Grade level + proof of address. Follow the advert's submission instructions exactly.

  4. Complete the competency assessment

    Most SDPs run a numeracy + literacy aptitude test before shortlisting.

  5. Attend the interview

    Selection panel typically includes a representative from the host employer and the SDP.

  6. Sign your tripartite learnership agreement

    You + the employer + the SDP - registered with Services SETA. You'll also sign a separate fixed-term employment contract for the duration. Induction follows, then monthly attendance registers drive stipend payment.
    Tip: Stipends are paid on the <strong>15th of the following month</strong> after registers are submitted. Late stipends are common - if it's more than 2 weeks late, report it.

Services SETA's six chambers

  1. Cleaning & Hiring Chamber - household cleaning, office cleaning, equipment hire, vehicle/truck rental, domestic services
  2. Communication & Marketing Chamber - marketing, PR, direct marketing, market research, contact/call centres, postal/mail services
  3. Labour & Collective Services Chamber - labour brokers, employment agencies, professional bodies, bargaining councils, trade unions
  4. Business & Management Chamber - general consulting, project management, quality management, business administration
  5. Personal Care Chamber - hairdressing, beauty, nails, perfumery, funeral services, modelling agencies, fashion
  6. Real Estate & Related Services Chamber - estate agencies, property management, valuation, auctioneering, interior design

Main Services SETA qualifications

NQFQualification
1GETC: Hygiene & Cleaning
2National Certificate: New Venture Creation (SMME)
3National Certificate: Management
3National Certificate: Business Administration Services
3Hairdressing
3General Security Practices
4FET Certificate: New Venture Creation
4FET Certificate: Business Administration Services
4National Certificate: Generic Management
4National Certificate: Project Management
5National Certificate: Generic Management

Stipend benchmarks

Services SETA doesn't publish a single tariff. Cross-referenced figures for 2026:

  • NQF 1-3 (Hygiene & Cleaning, Security, Personal Care): R2,500-R3,500/month
  • NQF 4 (Business Admin, Generic Management, New Venture Creation): R3,500-R5,000/month
  • NQF 5 (Generic Management, Project Management): R5,000-R6,500/month

2% UIF is deducted. Stipends pay on the 15th of the following month subject to attendance registers.

Major 2026 programmes

  • Discretionary Grant Window SP2026/27-01 - currently open with extended deadline
  • Services SETA Bursary 2026 - for HR, project management, business admin, communications, law at public universities and TVETs. Previous closing date 15 September 2025; 2026 cycle expected to follow similar pattern
  • Skills Programmes for unemployed - shorter, part-qualification
  • Employer-led Learnerships - funded through Workplace Skills Plans
  • University of Zululand partnership - bursary collaboration

Accredited training providers

Always verify on the LMIS SDP search before applying. Commonly cited providers:

  • iLearn (Pretoria - Business Admin, Generic Management, NVC)
  • LearnMe (Pretoria - Business Admin, Generic Management)
  • SpecCon Holdings
  • Advanced Assessments and Training
  • Edge Training - Hygiene & Cleaning
  • Signa Academy - large national learnership provider
  • EduPower Skills Academy
  • Boston City Campus - selected Services SETA qualifications
  • PMI (Project Management Institute SA) - Project Management NQF 4 & 5
  • PropAcademy - Real Estate NQF 4

The fraud problem - verify everything

Services SETA has one of the worst public fraud records of any SETA. Documented major cases:

  • Grayson Reed contract (2018): R162.7 million biometric/stipend contract awarded to a shell company; tender advertised for only 4 days vs the required 21; mass underpayment of learner stipends (some receiving R750 instead of contract amount). Investigated by OUTA and Daily Maverick.
  • Five Star Communications (2023): R36.96 million branding contract; a single tender box charged at R302,000 (≈8,000% mark-up); 29 inflated invoices paid without challenge.
  • Total irregular expenditure reached R1.26 billion by FY2023/24 (Daily Maverick, July 2025).
  • Criminal complaints laid by OUTA against former CEO Andile Nongogo and senior manager Duduzile Mwelase.

The SETA is currently under administration - Mr Lehlogonolo Masoga is the Administrator, Sibusiso Dhladhla is Acting CEO.

Scam patterns affecting learners

  • Anyone asking for an application fee, registration deposit, uniform fee, training fee - Services SETA learnerships are 100% free; money flows TO the learner
  • WhatsApp groups or Facebook posts promising "guaranteed placement" for a fee
  • Fake "SDPs" not on the LMIS database - verify at lmis.servicesseta.org.za/Home/SDPSearch
  • Cloned websites mimicking servicesseta.org.za (look out for .com, .net or .co.za variants)
  • "Recruiters" requesting banking PIN or OTP for stipend setup
  • Adverts with no SDP accreditation number, no SAQA ID, and no employer name
  • Stipend underpayment or late payment is itself a sign of a fraudulent intermediary

Common rejection reasons

  • Application after closing date
  • Missing or uncertified documents
  • Failing to meet minimum NQF / Matric subject requirements (e.g. maths for Real Estate)
  • Age above 35
  • Already holding an equivalent or higher qualification (over-qualification rule for entry-level grants)
  • Currently employed full-time and applying for an unemployed-learner programme
  • Failing the SDP's aptitude assessment
  • Duplicate registration (already contracted to another SETA-funded programme)

Contact

Frequently asked questions

What does Services SETA stand for?
Services Sector Education and Training Authority - one of 21 SETAs, the largest by registered learners and SIC code coverage.
How do I apply for a Services SETA learnership?
Register on the Services SETA Learner Portal and apply through an accredited Skills Development Provider listed on lmis.servicesseta.org.za. Many opportunities also list on SA Youth at sayouth.mobi.
How much does Services SETA pay learners?
Typically R2,500-R6,500/month depending on NQF level. Entry-level programmes (Hygiene & Cleaning, Security, Personal Care) pay R2,500-R3,500. NQF 4 pays R3,500-R5,000. NQF 5 pays R5,000-R6,500.
How long does a Services SETA learnership last?
Usually 12 months for NQF 1-4. 18-24 months for NQF 5 (Generic Management, Project Management, Real Estate). Short skills programmes run 6 months.
What qualifications does Services SETA offer?
Hygiene & Cleaning (NQF 1), Business Administration (NQF 3 & 4), Generic Management (NQF 4 & 5), New Venture Creation (NQF 2 & 4), Project Management (NQF 4), Hairdressing (NQF 3), General Security Practices (NQF 3), and Real Estate qualifications.
Is Services SETA legitimate?
Yes - it's a government-established SETA. However it has been at the centre of major corruption cases since 2018 (Grayson Reed, Five Star Communications), with R1.26 billion in irregular expenditure by 2023/24. It's currently under administration.
Do I need Matric for a Services SETA learnership?
Not for all - Hygiene & Cleaning NQF 1 accepts Grade 9. Most NQF 4 programmes require Matric, and Real Estate requires specific maths/literacy at NQF 3.
Can foreigners apply for Services SETA learnerships?
No - South African ID is required for SETA-funded programmes.
Does Services SETA pay a stipend in 2026?
Yes - paid monthly on the 15th of the following month, subject to attendance register submission. 2% UIF is deducted.
What's the difference between a learnership and a skills programme?
A learnership leads to a full qualification (120+ credits) over 12+ months. A skills programme is shorter (6 months) and awards a part-qualification or unit standards only.

Related guides

W&RSETA learnerships

Retail and wholesale sector - adjacent to Services SETA's business chambers.

MICT SETA learnerships

IT, telecoms and media - better-paying alternative to Services SETA.

YES Programme

12-month private-sector placement at R5,241/month - higher stipend than Services SETA NQF 1-3.

Learnership stipends 2026

The gazetted minimum allowance and what real programmes pay.

All 21 SETAs explained

What a SETA is, why you cannot apply to one directly, and the route that works.

Last updated 17 May 2026. We review and refresh this guide regularly — if something here is out of date, let us know.