Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA)

About CETA

The Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) is a sector education and training authority. It was established in 2000 and reports to the Department of Higher Education and Training. CETA works with employers, training providers and government to develop skills for the construction industry. Its offices are in the Midrand Business Park, Midrand.

Construction is a major source of jobs, yet many young people struggle to enter it. Skills shortages in engineering, planning and building management also hold projects back. CETA tries to solve both problems. It funds learnerships, apprenticeships, skills programmes and bursaries, and it supports small contractors as well.

Like other sector education and training authorities, CETA draws much of its income from the skills development levy that employers pay. Part of that money returns to the sector as grants for training. As a result, each CETA bursary call reflects the priorities of the construction industry and the funds available that year.

How CETA supports students

The authority's main bursary is the Thapelo Madibeng Bursary Scheme. It is named in honour of a former CETA executive. It supports students from low-income households who study built environment qualifications at public institutions. Recent calls included architecture, building construction, civil engineering, construction management, construction economics, quantity surveying and electrical engineering. Some calls also covered postgraduate study.

The bursary has covered tuition, registration, books, meals and accommodation, with transport in some cases. Recent reports mention a ceiling of R120,000 per year, but the exact figure can differ between intakes. A separate Top Achievers stream also exists for outstanding learners. Its rules and amounts may differ from the general scheme, so read each call separately.

What to know before applying

Applicants must be South African citizens and unemployed. Most undergraduates need a completed matric and a minimum academic average, which recent calls set at 50%. People who already receive NSFAS or another public bursary cannot apply, and relatives of CETA staff are excluded. Age limits have also applied, with older students allowed in postgraduate study.

The household income limit has changed between calls. Published figures range between R600,000 and R800,000 a year, so check the figure in the current notice. Do not assume last year's rule still applies.

Applications go through the CETA online portal. You will need certified copies of your ID, your academic records, proof of acceptance, a fee quotation and income proof for your parents or guardians. Closing dates are usually early in the year, and recent calls closed in January. Therefore, begin collecting documents in the final months of the year before.

Finally, remember that CETA never charges for applications. Always use the official CETA website to avoid scams.