Grant Advertisement Window to address the 2025/26 Financial Year Target Shortfall

Dear Valued Stakeholder,

The Media Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) hereby invites eligible and constituent stakeholders operating within the MICT sub-sectors to apply for Discretionary Grant funding. This Grant is intended to address the MICT sector needs as outlined in the Sector Skills Plan (SSP), Strategic Plan and priorities outlined in the National Skills Development Plan.

The Discretionary Grant fund is intended for programmes and projects that improve the supply of qualified and competent people for scarce and critical skills and enterprise development.In addition, the funding aims to provide external mentoring support and targeted training for both business owners and learners.

In this window, the MICT SETA will be allocating Discretionary Grant funding for the following learning interventions:

Who can apply?

The MICT SETA, in line with its mandate as outlined in the amended Skills Development Act 37 of 2008, is authorised to allocate grants in the prescribed manner to support advanced skills development opportunities for all MICT SETA constituent entities who meet the below criteria.

Therefore, only MICT SETA qualifying constituent entities whose core business falls within the MICT sub-sectors and who demonstrate adequate operational capacity and are in good legal standing, are eligible to apply for MICT SETA funded interventions.

Given the special nature of the skills development framework, particularly in the context of SETAs, the MICT SETA’s discretionary grant window funding is primarily applicable to:

• MICT SETA Constituent Cooperatives.

Preference will be given to the following:

• Cooperatives, whose core business operates within the MICT sectors.
• Cooperatives formed by learners who have participated in MICT SETA funded learning programmes in the past.
• Cooperatives owned by people with disabilities
• Programmes addressing the MICT SETA Priority Occupation List and new qualifications responding to future skills.

Interested Cooperatives can only apply for the following interventions:

• Internship Programme
• University Placement Programme
• TVET Placement Programme
• Candidacy Programme

The MICT SETA will not award funding for:

• Projects that have already commenced prior to the approval of the application.
• Set-up costs, e.g., start-up costs.
• Capital expenditure, e.g., building costs, equipment such as computers, etc.
• Existing operating expenses e.g., salaries of current employees who will undergo training.
• Non cooperatives entities
• Organisational policy development.
• Blacklisted and Deregistered entities
• Cooperatives that defaulted to pay learner stipends.
• Cooperatives that have failed to place learners in the workplace.
• Interventions that result only in “awareness” for participants.
• Training of learners that are currently funded through other programmes.
• Cooperatives that submit fraudulent documents.
• Cooperatives that are 100% owned by non-RSA Citizens.

Application Process

• All applications must be submitted online on the MICT-SETA Learner Management System
• Late, manual, and emailed applications will not be accepted/considered.
• The submission deadline will not be extended.

Mandatory compliance documents must be uploaded online.

To ensure your application is considered for evaluation for this Discretionary Grant window, the following mandatory supporting documents must be uploaded to our system:

• Proof of cooperative’s registration (g., Cooperative’s registration documents).
• Products and services of the cooperative (Preferably cooperative’s  profile).
• Valid Tax Clearance Certificate.
• Commitment to employ learners upon completion of the learning programme applied for (SMMEs exempted).
• CSD report (CSD registration report with tax compliance status and verified banking details, not CSD Registration Summary Report).
• Cooperative’s shares certificate(s) (or an affidavit signed by a commissioner of oath where the cooperative does not have share certificate(s))
• List of learning programmes implemented by the cooperative in the past (if the cooperative has not implemented any learning programme, an indication needs to be made on a signed cooperative’s letterhead).
• A declaration of interest from Cooperative’s Directors for any possible relationships with Board members and management of the MICT SETA (On a signed cooperative’s letterhead).

NB: In instances where any of the required documents are not applicable to your Cooperative’s operations, cooperative may submit an affidavit, duly signed by a Commissioner of Oaths, confirming the exemption.

NB: The allocation of a Discretionary Grant is subject to the sole discretion of the MICT SETA and is not guaranteed.

The application window closes on 16 February 2026 at 16.30 All queries must be directed via email to: DGqueries@mict.org.za.

 Please note: If you do not receive a response within one (1) month after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful and submit a new application in  the next DG window as the available Budget and Annual Performance Plan Targets cannot accommodate all applications received.

Yours in Skills Development,
MICT SETA