Overview
The Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA) opened its new 2026/27 Discretionary Grant Funding Window on 19 October 2026, reference 2026/27-DG-03. The opportunity seeks eligible applicants who can deliver accredited learning and workplace-based programmes that respond to South Africa’s scarce skills and employment needs. The published closing date is 6 November 2026. Applicants should use this new reference number and not rely on older notices that have been withdrawn.
Eligible applicants
The official invitation targets eligible employers, sectoral associations, professional bodies, trade unions and federations, and accredited Skills Development Providers working within the Services SETA scope. A nonprofit is not automatically eligible solely because it is registered: it must qualify under the relevant applicant category and learning programme, with the appropriate accreditation or partnerships where required. The funder’s complete advert and policy govern final eligibility.
Supported learning programmes
Available mechanisms include learnerships, apprenticeships, Recognition of Prior Learning, Adult Education and Training, skills programmes and candidacy. Eligibility and the applicable cost units differ across these mechanisms. The proposed training must align with the Sector Priority Occupations and Interventions List and hard-to-fill vacancies described in Annexure A. Applicants may request support for no more than two learning programmes.
What applicants should prepare
Read the full Discretionary Grant Advert, the policy and Annexure A before drafting. Confirm the appropriate qualification or occupational programme and whether the delivery entity is accredited. Plan learner recruitment and workplace placement, where appropriate, with suitable host employers. Budget according to the published unit costs, not a guessed per-learner figure. Prepare current organisational supporting documents, formal representative authority, declarations of interest and POPI documentation.
Application status and method
The official funding-window page says applications must be submitted online and that the application link and submission instructions will be published there. Therefore, candidates should monitor the page and not assume the previous 2026 DG portal or email is necessarily acceptable for reference 2026/27-DG-03. The published deadline remains 6 November 2026. Optional online briefings took place on 22 and 23 October; check for any official recording or clarifications.
Why the reference number matters
Services SETA formally withdrew earlier funding windows numbered DG2026/27-02 and SP2026/27-03 in September 2026. Applications to withdrawn windows will not automatically transfer. The October call carries the new reference 2026/27-DG-03 and has its own grant advert and application conditions. Applicants who previously applied must verify the new rules and submit a fresh compliant application.
A practical proposal example
An eligible accredited provider working with employers might design a learnership linked to a documented local shortage. The plan would identify the occupation, verified employer demand, qualification, learner entry criteria, host workplace capacity, timeline, training outputs and completion documentation. A strong proposal also explains how the organisation will protect learners, handle records securely and verify outcomes. This example does not imply that any particular provider or occupation has been approved.
Funding and risks
The official public notice does not identify a single uniform cash amount for all applicant types. Do not advertise a fixed maximum until the relevant programme unit costs and funding advert are reviewed. Submission is competitive and subject to compliance checks, evaluation, due diligence and allocation. Incomplete documentation can lead to disqualification. This is a specialised South African skills-development grant, not a general unrestricted fund for NGOs.
Frequently asked questions
When do applications close?
6 November 2026 under the October 2026 call.
Can any NGO apply?
No. Applicants must qualify under an eligible applicant category and the relevant learning-programme rules.
How many programmes may be proposed?
A maximum of two learning programmes.
Can a previous application carry forward?
No. Services SETA says submissions to withdrawn windows do not automatically transfer.
Where is the application link?
The official October call page says online submission details will be published there; applicants should check for updates.
Official sources: October 2026 Discretionary Grants Notice; withdrawal notice for earlier windows. Verified 24 October 2026.
For organisational documentation and preparation, visit the Africads Funding Readiness Toolkit.
