Media Statement: DG Special Funding Window – Career Awareness Initiatives
Official source
Source domain: merseta.org.za
Collected on 6 August 2026
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What this means
This summary is generated from the source document and may mention different dates. The Dates panel below is compiled from the official structured record and is authoritative — rely on it, and confirm on the official source before acting.
- Official closing date: 29 July 2026
What this document offers
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2026/27 Discretionary Grant (DG) Special Funding Window - Specific Initiatives: Career Awareness initiatives
merSETA invites eligible organisations to partner with it to plan, coordinate and implement Career Awareness events that promote occupations in high demand in the manufacturing, engineering and related services sector. The programme will implement 50 events nationally (25 urban and 25 rural) across all nine provinces, targeting learners in Grades 8 to 12 (including Technical and Comprehensive High Schools, STEM learners, learners with special educational needs, and unemployed TVET learners). Applicants may apply to implement a maximum of four events across no more than two provinces, and successful applicants must establish strategic partnerships with TVET colleges to support Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for unemployed TVET learners.
- Who it is for
- eligible organisations (including CBOs, NGOs, NPOs, private companies, cooperatives, higher education institutions, TVET and CET colleges, accredited Skills Development Providers, and event management companies) applying to implement Career Awareness events with merSETA
- How to act on it
- Submit the application electronically through the National Skills Development Management System (NSDMS) Projects Portal (applications submitted after the deadline or through any platform other than the NSDMS will not be considered).
- Closes
- 14 August 2026
The document's recorded date is 29 July 2026. Confirm on the official source.
Show the line this came from
The application window opened on Wednesday, 29 July 2026 and will close on Friday, 14 August 2026.
Facts
Places
City of Johannesburg, Gauteng
Reference
https://www.merseta.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Media-Statement_DG-Special-Funding-Window_Career-Awareness-Initiatives.pdf
Key Takeaways
- merSETA 2026/27 Discretionary Grant (DG) Special Funding Window: Specific Initiatives
- Subject: Career Awareness initiatives promoting high-demand occupations in manufacturing, engineering and related services
- Total events: 50 (25 urban, 25 rural) across all nine provinces
- Target learners: Grades 8–12 (Technical and Comprehensive High Schools), STEM learners, special educational needs learners, unemployed TVET learners
- Applicant limit: maximum four events across no more than two provinces
- Requirement: establish strategic partnerships with TVET colleges for Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities
- Application method: electronic submission via NSDMS Projects Portal only
- Application dates: open 29 July 2026; close 14 August 2026
- Media release date/place: Johannesburg, 03 August 2026
- Contact: 010 219 3000; website www.merseta.org.za
- Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA)
- National Skills Development Management System (NSDMS)
- NSDMS Projects Portal
- Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges
- Work-Integrated Learning (WIL)
- Community-Based Organisations (CBOs)
- Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
- Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs)
- Skills Development Providers
- event management companies
- Skills Development Act of 1998
- Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs)
- Technical and Comprehensive High Schools
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
- TVET and CET colleges
- unemployed TVET learners
- trade unions
- Skills Development Facilitators (SDFs)
Dates
Closing Date (read from the document by Govermate)
14 August 2026