SETA Allocation by SIC Code - Which SETA Does Your Business Fall Under?
Find out which SETA covers your business based on your SIC code. Complete mapping from Government Gazette 42589 of 22 July 2019.
Every employer in South Africa that pays the Skills Development Levy (SDL) is allocated to a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA). Your SETA allocation is determined by your primary SIC code as published in the Government Gazette No. 42589 of 22 July 2019. This gazette established the SETA landscape for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2030.
What Is a SETA?
SETAs are statutory bodies established under the Skills Development Act (Act 97 of 1998). There are currently 21 SETAs, each responsible for skills development within a specific economic sector. They receive 80% of the Skills Development Levy collected from employers in their sector and use these funds to support learnerships, apprenticeships, bursaries, and other training programmes.
How SETA Allocation Works
SETA allocation is based on SIC code divisions (the first two digits of your 5-digit SIC code). For example:
| Divisions 01-03 (Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing) → AgriSETA
| Divisions 05-09 (Mining and Quarrying) → MQA
| Divisions 10-12 (Food and Beverages) → FoodBev SETA
| Divisions 41-43 (Construction) → CETA
| Divisions 45-47 (Wholesale and Retail) → W&RSETA
| Divisions 58-63 (ICT and Media) → MICT SETA
| Divisions 64-66 (Finance and Insurance) → FASSET / BANKSETA / INSETA
| Divisions 86-88 (Health and Social Work) → HWSETA
Some divisions are covered by multiple SETAs depending on the specific activity. For instance, Division 84 (Public administration) is shared between SASSETA, LGSETA, and PSETA depending on whether the employer is in safety/security, local government, or public service.
Skills Development Levy (SDL)
Employers with an annual payroll exceeding R500,000 must pay 1% of total payroll as the Skills Development Levy. This is collected by SARS along with PAYE. Of the 1% collected, 80% is transferred to the relevant SETA and 20% goes to the National Skills Fund.
Employers can claim back a portion of their SDL through mandatory and discretionary grants by submitting a Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Report (ATR) to their SETA by 30 April each year.
How to Find Your SETA
The easiest way is to search for your SIC code on our SIC Code Index. Each code page now displays the SETA allocation based on the Government Gazette. You can also browse our complete SETA Directory which shows all SIC codes covered by each SETA.
Disputing Your SETA Allocation
If you believe your business has been allocated to the wrong SETA, you can apply for a transfer. This typically happens when a company's primary activity changes, or when the SIC code used for allocation does not accurately reflect the business. Contact your current SETA or the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) for the transfer process.