Transport Education Training Authority (TETA)

About TETA

The Transport Education Training Authority, or TETA, is one of South Africa's 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities. It was established under the Skills Development Act 97 of 1998 and reports to the Minister of Higher Education and Training. Its job is to promote skills development across the transport sector. That sector includes rail, aerospace, maritime, road freight, road passenger, taxis, freight handling, and forwarding and clearing.

The head office is TETA House on Pretoria Avenue in Randburg, Johannesburg. Regional offices serve KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The main switchboard number is 011 577 7000, and the general email is info@teta.org.za.

How TETA supports students

TETA funds learning through several routes. These include learnerships, apprenticeships, internships, mandatory and discretionary grants, and bursaries. Its Unemployed Learner Bursary is the one most students know. It has been open to matriculants and to students at universities, universities of technology, TVET colleges, aviation schools and diving schools.

Supported fields have included transport economics, transportation management, logistics, accounting, aeronautical engineering, and pilot and commercial diving training. Reported cover includes tuition, books, accommodation, meals and transport where applicable. In addition, the authority has offered a fully funded scholarship at the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden. That award is a master's in maritime affairs over about 14 months, and it is meant for South Africans already working in the maritime sector.

What to know before applying

For the Unemployed Learner Bursary, applicants are reported to need South African citizenship or permanent residence, and to be unemployed. They should come from a previously disadvantaged background, and household income is reported to be capped at R350,000 a year. A minimum average of 40 percent has also been mentioned. Pilots must hold the relevant licence, and divers must be able to swim. These figures come from third-party listings, so confirm them in the official guidelines.

Applications go through the online TETA portal. You must create an account before you log in. The 2025/26 round closed on 24 September 2025. Closing dates differ each year, and late applications are not accepted.

Documents normally include a certified ID copy, certified academic results, proof of acceptance or registration, and proof of the household's income. Certification must be recent, usually within six months. Missing paperwork is a common reason for rejection, so gather everything early.

Any work-back obligation is not confirmed in the sources we reviewed. Read the funding agreement carefully, and use the official channels for the latest rules. Also remember that TETA funds many people through employers and training providers, so a learnership or apprenticeship may suit you better than a bursary.