A decisive shift is underway in South Africa’s skills development sector, as government and industry leaders move to strengthen delivery and ensure training programmes translate into real opportunities for young people.
The workshop, convened by the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA), brought together key stakeholders from across the public sector and industry, all aligned on one goal: improving how skills programmes are planned, managed and delivered.
At the centre of the discussions was a firm commitment to move beyond administrative targets and focus on meaningful outcomes.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mimmy Gondwe, emphasised the importance of this shift, underscoring that the true value of skills development lies in its impact on people’s lives.
“We invest billions into skills development, but investment alone does not produce outcomes. We cannot continue to measure success by the number of students we enrol or the certificates we issue. The real measure of success is whether learners transition into meaningful employment and sustainable livelihoods.”
Her remarks reinforced a growing consensus that the system must evolve not by abandoning its foundation, but by strengthening its ability to deliver results where it matters most.
Central to this effort is a sharper focus on project management, seen as a critical tool to bridge the gap between policy ambition and implementation. By improving coordination, oversight and execution, stakeholders believe the sector can unlock greater value from existing investments.
The workshop forms part of Services SETA’s broader reform agenda following its placement under administration in 2025. While acknowledging past constraints, the organisation is now positioning itself to rebuild with stronger systems and clearer accountability.
Administrator Lehlogonolo Masoga described the initiative as a practical step toward resetting how the entity operates.
“We have put together this workshop as a launching pad to build our project management capabilities. What we want to build is an alternative way of doing things differently.”
Masoga stressed that progress depends on how effectively challenges are addressed.
“The issue is not that we don’t have problems. The issue is what we do with these problems,” he added.
A key outcome of the engagement is the establishment of a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU), designed to enhance governance, strengthen financial discipline and ensure that funded programmes are completed efficiently and deliver measurable results.
Participants, including representatives from the Department of Higher Education and Training, National Treasury, SASSA and industry partners, also shared best practices and explored collaborative solutions to improve performance across the sector.
For government, the focus is now firmly on building a system that is responsive, accountable and capable of translating investment into opportunity.
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za