Get Involved – Level Up, The Services SETA Podcast is a dynamic and human-centred storytelling platform designed to educate, empower, and connect South Africans with real opportunities in skills development.
This podcast opens the world of SETAs in a clear, honest, and accessible way, moving beyond myths and misunderstandings to show the true impact of skills on people, businesses, and communities.
Through real voices, expert insights, and practical guidance, Get Involved helps listeners understand how the Services SETA works, what opportunities exist, and how everyone, from learners to employers, can play a role in building a skilled, competitive South Africa.
New episodes release every Wednesday.
Student Accommodation for Dignity: Safety, Standards and Student Success
The quality of student accommodation can influence a student’s safety, wellbeing, academic performance and ability to complete their qualification.
Recorded at the National Student Accommodation Summit at UKZN’s Edgewood Campus, this episode features Services SETA Administrator Mr Lehlogonolo Masoga and South African Union of Students President Moses Nkambako.
They discuss accommodation shortages, facilities management, safety, access to data, mental-health support and the collaboration required to create dignified living environments that support student success.
Hosted by Thami Ngubeni.
2 Jun 2026
Episode 14: Skills on Wheels – Expanding Access to Opportunities
Recorded earlier this year at the Budget Vote Skills Exhibition in Cape Town, this episode of the Get Involved, Level Up Podcast explores how Skills on Wheels is bringing education, training and career opportunities closer to communities.
The conversations highlight the importance of TVET colleges, industry-aligned qualifications, workplace experience and entrepreneurship. The episode also looks at opportunities in the energy, water, manufacturing and artisan sectors, as well as the skills needed for emerging careers and the jobs of the future.
Recorded at the SAFPA International Convention in Durban, this episode looks how skills development, industry-led qualifications, and workplace training can help professionalise the funeral services industry. Guests also share insights on innovation, business growth and opportunities for young people across the sector.
6 May 2026
Episode 13: Launching the Project Management Unit for Greater Impact
This episode of the Get Involved, Level Up Podcast was recorded during the Services SETA Project Management and Grant Delivery Workshop. It explores how stronger project management, governance, data systems and accountability can improve grant delivery and ensure measurable impact.
18 Feb 2026
Episode 11: Building Careers: TASEZ & Services SETA in Action
This episode features Sibusiso Khuzwayo from the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) and Lymon Sithole from We Invest Africa discussing how their partnership with Services SETA supports investment, enterprise development and job creation in the automotive sector. The programme provides young people with practical skills, workplace exposure and experience across areas such as environmental practice and digital skills. The episode also includes learners sharing their personal journeys, achievements and how the experience has shaped their career aspirations.
11 Feb 2026
Episode 10: Funding That Builds Futures
In this episode of the Get Involved and Level Up podcast, we explore how Services SETA turns funding into real impact.
CFO Mr. Tsheola Matsebe unpacks how public funds are managed with compliance, transparency, and accountability, and explains common causes of invoice delays, the importance of proper documentation, and how the Invoice Management System supports timely payments.
We also hear from Alfonz Fernandez, a Services SETA bursary beneficiary and postgraduate law student, who shares how funding enabled her to complete her studies and expand her impact through youth development and mentorship.
Together, these insights show how responsible funding unlocks skills and shapes South Africa’s future.
5 Feb 2026
Episode 9: From Occupational Qualifications to Real Training Experiences
In this episode, we explore how occupational qualifications at Services SETA go beyond traditional academics to combine knowledge, practical skills, and workplace experience. Executive Manager Liesel Köstlich explains how these programmes are assessed and implemented to meet industry needs. We then hear from Lindiwe Nkosi on the real experiences of learners, including support, challenges, and career impact. The episode closes with Cikizwa Mtwayi sharing her personal journey and how the training transformed her career opportunities.
28 Jan 2026
Special Episode: Reflecting on the 2025 AGM
**Special Episode: Reflecting on the 2025 AGM**
In this special episode, we reflect on the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM), a pivotal moment of accountability, strategic engagement and reflection. The AGM brought together stakeholders from diverse industries, highlighting shared priorities around transformation, skills development and sustainable growth. We also hear from Mr. Masoga, Administrator, and Mr. Dhladhla, Acting CEO, as they share leadership reflections, key milestones and strategic focus areas shaping the future of the services sector.
21 Jan 2026
Episode 7- From Industry Voice to Skilled Workforce: How Services SETA Chambers Shape Inclusive Skills Development
Services SETA chambers play a key role in linking industry needs with skills development by ensuring training, qualifications, and funding are driven by real industry demand. The podcast explains how industries are structured into subsectors and chambers, and how this system keeps skills planning relevant and responsive.
The episode features insights from Services SETA on how industry input shapes occupational qualifications, funding priorities, and inclusive skills development, with a focus on supporting small businesses, youth, and people with disabilities. It also highlights the personal care and beauty sector, showing how professional standards, ethical practice, and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) are helping practitioners move from informal work into safe, recognised careers.
14 Jan 2026
Episode 6: Assessment, Certification and Artisanal Pathways Explained
This episode of the Services SETA Get Involved Podcast unpacks how assessment, certification, and artisanal pathways work in practice. Featuring Mr Tebello Mokoena, Senior Manager: Core Business at Services SETA, the discussion provides clear insight into accreditation, certification, external moderation, and workplace approvals, while explaining how artisanal pathways and apprenticeships operate, who they are for, and how learners, employers, and training providers can access and navigate these opportunities effectively.
24 Dec 2025
Episode 5: Making Sense of Learning Programmes, Training and Apprenticeships
We unpack how SETA-funded learning programmes work in practice, from grants and employer readiness to learner onboarding, stipends, and compliance. Shireen Raju and Suzan Kgobe also explore apprenticeships and artisanal work, showing why trade skills remain a strong pathway to employment. Practical insights for employers, providers, and learners.
17 Dec 2025
Episode 4: Accreditation, Bursaries and Skills Centres Explained
In this episode, we unpack how Services SETA bursaries and Skills Development Centres expand access to accredited training and career opportunities across South Africa. We also demystify QCTO accreditation, what it is, why it matters, and how it ensures quality, nationally recognised occupational training. Practical insights for learners, employers, and training providers.
In this episode, we demystify how SETA grants work and how they unlock real skills development opportunities. From mandatory grants that enable employers to reclaim their skills levy, to discretionary grants supporting learnerships, bursaries, and workplace-based training, as well as special projects addressing urgent national priorities, we break it all down clearly and practically. Ria Jordan, Manager for Mandatory Grants at Services SETA, shares expert insights on where the funding comes from, how to access it, and the impact these programmes are having nationwide. We also spotlight the #Mathub’Olusha SME-Youth Placement Initiative, with Septi Bukula unpacking how this Services SETA project is connecting young people with SMEs and creating sustainable pathways into employment.
3 Dec 2025
Episode 2: Where It All Begins: Research & Sector Planning
In this episode of the *Services SETA Get Involved Podcast*, we return to the foundations of skills development and explore how research, sector planning, and qualifications shape meaningful training and career pathways. **Emma Mbele** from the Services SETA Strategy & Insight Department unpacks how data-driven insights guide programme design and ensure skills development responds to real sector needs. We are also joined by **Siyabonga Mshibe** from the South African Youth in Property Association (SAYIPA), who shares his journey from a Services SETA-funded programme into the property sector, highlighting the real-world impact of targeted skills development in creating opportunities for young people.
30 Nov 2025
Episode 1 – Temp to Talent
In this episode, we’re joined by Duduzile Mwelase, Acting Executive Manager for Corporate Services, who gives a clear, high-level overview of what the Services SETA does, how we differ from other SETAs, and our overall organisational mission.
We then spoke to Colette Atkinson from Adcorp about a powerful project that helped temporary workers access real training, real skills, and real career paths. And Sello Mahlakgane, a programme beneficiary, shares a warm and inspiring journey of how this initiative opened doors and changed her life.
26 Nov 2025
Special Edition. The Road Ahead: A Conversation with the Administrator
In this special edition of Get Involved and Level Up, we sit down with the Administrator to reflect on the road ahead for skills development in South Africa. The conversation explores key priorities, strategic interventions, and the role of the SETA system in responding to economic challenges, workforce transformation, and future skills needs. Listeners gain insight into leadership perspectives, sector-wide reforms, and what lies ahead for employers, training providers, and young people navigating the world of work.
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