“We pride ourselves as a sector skills and training authority in meeting the needs of students and ensuring that new entrants to the labour market are adequately trained,” Bursary Manager, Basani Sithole, told the students.
“It is your responsibility to pass your studies and enhance the skills of the current workforce and alleviate poverty in our communities.”
The partnership between CPUT and the SETA started in 2015 when 10 students from Khayelitsha were awarded bursaries. In 2016 another 10 students from Mitchells Plain were funded and in 2017 that number increased exponentially to 265. The SETA says it is eager to continue funding CPUT students in 2018.
The students applied directly to the SETA. The bursaries were awarded to both part-time and full-time students with the former getting a maximum of R35 000, which covers tuition fees and books, while the latter got R60 000 for tuition fees, books, meals and accommodation.
The role of the SETA is to ensure that the skill requirements of the services sector are identified and that adequate and appropriate skills are readily available. The Services SETA contributes to the improvement of sector skills by ensuring that education and training is provided for the citizens of South Africa.
