Our Organisation
Get to know the NSF
About Us
The National Skills Fund is a funding entity that reports to the Department of Higher Education and Training. Its primary function is to provide funding towards national skills development priorities.
The NSF’s founding legislation is the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act 97 of 1998) (SDA), which outlines its key funding priorities:
- Skills development initiatives that are identified by the national skills development strategy as national priorities
- Initiatives related to the achievement of the SDA as the Director-General of Higher Education and Training determines
- Initiatives led by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation to achieve a standard of good practice in terms of skills development
The NSF receives 20% of the skills development levy, a payroll tax introduced by the Skills Development Levies Act, 1999 (Act 9 of 1999) (SDLA), to encourage learning and development in the workplace.
In contributing to the production of the right skills for the labour market and self-employment, the NSF therefore provides funding for various post-school learning pathways and initiatives designed to achieve equitable access to quality provisioning in the post-school education and training (PSET) sector.
Between 1999 and 2009, the NSF, along with the sector education and training authorities (SETAs) and the National Skills Authority (NSA), reported to the then Department of Labour. However, in 2009, the DHET was formed through a presidential proclamation. As a result, the skills development system (SETAs, NSF and NSA) was transferred from the former Department of Labour to the newly formed DHET. This change was made with the fundamental aim of bringing the world of work closer to the world of education.
The NSF was then listed as a Schedule 3A public entity on 01 April 2012. Prior to this, it was operated as a programme within the Skills Development Branch of the Department of DHET.
Since becoming a public entity, the NSF has developed its own unique visual identity and complied with the legislated strategic planning and annual reporting process.
Education and Training of Learners
Post-School Education and Training
Skills Infrastructure Development
Skills Development Research, Innovation
Vision, Mission and Values
Vision
Funding to skill our nation.
Mission
To provide funding for national skills development towards a capable South African citizenry that contributes to improving economic participation and social development.
Values
Passion | Integrity | Collaboration | Accountability | Service Excellence
The NSF's Partners
Strategic and Implementing Partners
The NSF partners with a variety of organisations to plan and initiate its strategic initiatives. This includes co-funding partners, donor organisations, public-private partnerships, and funding partners. The NSF also partners with the offices of the premiers to implement and monitor provincial projects.
In addition to these partnerships, the NSF relies on a number of key stakeholders and institutions in the PSET environment to execute its education and training initiatives successfully. These include public technical and TVET colleges, skills development providers, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Department of Higher Education and Training International Scholarships, and SETAs.
Education and training quality assurance bodies also contribute to the NSF’s work by ensuring that learners who are funded for education and training go through accredited learning programmes and acquire recognised qualifications.
The NSF Offices
The NSF has five regional offices:
- NSF Regional Skills Development Implementation (SDI): Gauteng, Free State and North West is located in Pretoria
- NSF Regional SDI: Limpopo and Mpumalanga is also located in Pretoria, with plans to set up satellite offices in Thohoyandou and Polokwane
- NSF Regional SDI: Eastern Cape is in East London
- NSF Regional SDI: KwaZulu-Natal is in Durban and the region also has a satellite office in Pietermaritzburg
- NSF Regional SDI: Western Cape and Northern Cape is based in Cape Town.