The functions and responsibilities of SETAs are set out in Chapter 3, section 10 of the Skills Development Act, 1998 which are to:
- Develop and implement a sector skills plan. This is a plan to describe the trends in each sector, the skills that are in demand and to identify priorities for skills development
- Develop and administer Learning Programmes. These include Skills Programmes and Learnerships
- Support the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework. The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is the framework, based on eight levels, on which any qualification or learning outcome can be registered.
- Undertake Quality Assurance on provision of learning in line with the QCTO requirements which include the following:
- Accredit education and training providers.
- Monitor provision to ensure that programmes are being followed.
- Register Assessors.
- Collaborate with other Education and Training Quality assurers.
- Disburse levies collected from employers in their sector. Employers pay 1% of their salary payroll to SARS on a monthly basis. 80% of the portion of this contribution is distributed to SETAs and is allocated to administration costs and grants to be claimed back by companies
- Report to the Minister. SETAs are statutory bodies. This means that they are established by Act of Parliament and they are given clear responsibilities to be discharged in the public interest as they are custodians of public funds (levies). SETAs are required to report to the Director-General of the Department of Higher Education and Training, on the efficient and effective use of funds. SETAs are also governed by the Public Finance Management Act, the provisions of which are designed to ensure that public bodies operate in a manner that is not wasteful or irresponsible.
List of all SETAs
Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSETA)
Banking Sector Education and Training Authority (BANKSETA)
Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA)
Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA)
Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA)
Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA)
Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA)
Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FP&M SETA)
Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Fasset)
Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industry Sector Education and Training Authority (FoodBev SETA)
Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA)
Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (Inseta)
Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA)
Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA)
Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA)
Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA)
Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority (PSETA)
Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA)
Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SSETA)
Transport Education Training Authority (TETA)
Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA)