In this episode of the Get Involved and Level Up podcast, we unpack how Services SETA turns funding into measurable impact.

The conversation opens with Mr. Tsheola Matsebe, Chief Financial Officer of Services SETA, who provides insight into how public funds are managed to uphold compliance, transparency, and accountability. He breaks down financial governance processes, highlights common causes of invoice delays, emphasises the importance of proper planning and documentation, and explains how the Invoice Management System enables efficient and timely payments.

The episode also features Alfonz Fernandez, a Services SETA bursary beneficiary and postgraduate law student, who shares her journey from discovering the bursary opportunity to completing her studies without financial strain. She reflects on how access to funding reshaped her academic path, opened doors beyond the classroom, and empowered her to give back through youth development and mentorship.

Together, these conversations demonstrate how shared responsibility and effective funding unlock skills, build confidence, and shape South Africa’s future.

In this episode, we dive into the operational heartbeat of the Services SETA, starting with a conversation with Liesel Köstlich, Executive Manager for Operations. She unpacks what occupational qualifications are, how they differ from traditional academic pathways, and why they are critical in today’s economy. The discussion explores how knowledge, practical skills, and workplace experience are integrated, how competence is assessed, and how quality assurance and provincial implementation ensure programmes remain relevant to industry needs.

The episode then moves beyond frameworks into the real, on-the-ground experience of training, through insights from Lindiwe Nkosi of TL Consulting, a Services SETA partner delivering learnerships and skills development programmes. The conversation highlights learner experiences, support mechanisms, challenges, and how training translates into meaningful career opportunities.

The episode concludes with a personal reflection from Cikizwa Mtwayi, a programme beneficiary, who shares her lived experience and the impact the training has had on her career journey.

In this special episode, we reflect on the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM), a key moment of accountability, reflection, and strategic engagement for the organisation.

The AGM convened stakeholders from various industries, including auctioneering, image consulting, beauty, public relations, and funeral services, among others. These engagements highlighted the breadth of the sector and reinforced shared priorities around transformation, skills development,t and sustainable growth.

We also hear leadership reflections from Mr. Masoga, Administrator, and Mr. Dhladhla, Acting CEO, as they unpack key milestones, strategic focus areas, and the collective responsibility for advancing the services sector.

This episode offers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the commitments and conversations that continue to shape our work going forward.