Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela has announced transitional arrangements to help South Africa move from legacy pre-2009 qualifications to a modern vocational qualifications system that better reflects workplace needs, new technologies and changing economic demands.
Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria, Manamela said the implementation of the Directive on transitional arrangements for pre-2009 qualifications is part of the government's wider work to strengthen the national qualifications framework and protect learners, employers and training providers during the shift. The directive, published on 3 June 2024 under the National Qualifications Framework Act, is designed to streamline the transition, improve qualification quality and ensure stronger links between education, training and labor market needs.
Over 900 professional qualifications registered
Manmela said 948 vocational qualifications and part-qualifications had already been registered on the National Qualifications Framework. He said 1,475 qualifications dating back to 2009 had reached their registration deadline. Of these, 630 received learner enrollment extensions after consultation with stakeholders.
The remaining qualifications were deregistered because they had no learner enrollments or had already been replaced by vocational qualifications. Learners already enrolled in the affected programs have been given adequate time to complete their studies through teach-out arrangements.
Extension based on readiness and learner impact
The minister said the government is using a differentiated approach rather than imposing one rule for all qualifications.
Category A includes vocational qualifications already registered on the National Qualifications Framework. These do not require further gazetting or enrollment extension and will continue through the existing processes managed by the Business and Professions Quality Council and the South African Qualifications Authority.
Category B includes pre-2009 qualifications and nationally recognized technical education diploma programmes. Some of these will receive a targeted extension of six to 24 months depending on the learner's effectiveness, field readiness, replaceability and labor market demand.
Manmela said the approved list will be published in the Government Gazette on 15 June 2026, while SAQA will publish the full list of affected qualifications and their replacement vocational qualifications on its website.
Task team to guide implementation
Category C contains regulatory entity standards that still support statutory and industry programs. These have been given an extension of up to three years so that regulators and industry can review the requirements and move towards replacement vocational skills programs without disrupting key sectors.
Trades under Category C will be handled as per the availability of replacement professional qualifications. Where replacements are already available, no further elaboration is required. Where they are still being developed, targeted transitional support of approximately one year may be considered.
A technical working group has also been established to monitor progress, resolve implementation delays, and improve coordination across institutions. Its workflow will include communications, legal matters, SETA coordination, data management, assessment, certification, quality assurance, TVET rollout, funding criteria and monitoring.
Manamela said the new structure will improve accountability and help ensure that South Africa's qualifications system will become more responsive, reliable and tailored to real workplace needs.