Kgahliso Mello
In accordance with the Skills Development Levy Act, all registered employers with an annual payroll exceeding R500 000 are required to pay skills development levies and subsequently submit a Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) & Annual Training Report (ATR) to their relevant SETA (Sector Educational Training Authority). By doing so an employer will receive 20% of their 1% Skills Development Levy back in the form of a Mandatory Grant. The Mandatory Grant is a report which is submitted to an employer’s SETA to provide them with the data on their workforce and skills needs based on their annual WSP (Planned training for the next year) and ATR (Training completed for the current year). The SETA is mandated to pay back 20% of the Skills Development Levy each year, to employers that successfully submit their necessary annual submissions. Not only do we assist by submitting Mandatory Grants but we also assist by applying on behalf of an employer to the SETA for a Discretionary Grant. The remaining 49,5% of the Skills Development Levy is awarded to employers at the discretion of the SETAs. Employers need to apply for this funding through the relevant channels with their respective SETA. The aim of these grants is to encourage stakeholders and employers to contribute to skills development, addressing critical and scarce skills shortages, and creating jobs and employment opportunities. The below diagram indicates the allocation of funding to the SETA from SARS in respect of the 1% Skills Development Levy. The annual WSP & ATR Reporting for Mandatory Grants must be submitted to the SETA by 30 April. The Discretionary Grant window becomes available during different time periods for different SETAs during the year. Non-Submission Penalties: Andiphile Bhanya Luyanda Domboti “I have learned a lot at PLSA during this short time. The environment is very professional. The admin staff provide a very good professional service that everyone would like to receive. The facilitator is doing a very good job. I feel more than welcome. The study material is so educational.” “I greet the company at large. I would like to thank PLSA for giving me this good and nice opportunity. PLSA makes me happy ever since I met the company, they have never done me wrong and I hope the company will grow me to my highest level. Thank You!” “I would like you to know that I appreciate the treatment that we get here at providing skills Learning Academy. When our program finished you did not throw us away so that we find ourselves, but instead, you valued us. Thank you so much for that and keep doing the right things even to others.” “Before this learnership, I had zero direction. I was sitting at home wondering what’s next. Providing Skills showed me I can actually do something with my life. I know how to communicate in a workplace now — I have been able to help my family financially and have grown so much. I’m proud of how far I’ve come.” ~ Zinhle Mothoa “Coming from a background with no formal experience, I didn’t think I’d ever get a chance like this. The learnership showed me how to manage teams, communicate properly, and solve problems. Now I feel ready to work anywhere with confidence.” ~ Junior Madinani “This academy gave me my first real opportunity. I didn’t know anything about leadership or professionalism — now I help run meetings and make reports. The facilitators made learning fun and treated us with respect. I feel like a whole leader in the making!” Natasha Sithole “Before I joined the Generic Management Learnership, I was honestly just stuck. No job, no direction. But now I understand how to run meetings, speak professionally, and manage people. It opened my eyes and helped me believe in myself again”. ~ Lindiwe Mahlangu “This was more than just a course — it was a full experience. From the start to the very end you felt valued and important. The facilitators showed their support and ensured you were not left behind if you didn’t understand something fully. The opportunity also to be part of the real working world in Workplace Experience was a very good way to apply what I had learned in class practically.” ~ Bongani Sikonde “The Generic Management Learnership helped me understand the importance of planning and accountability. I used to just go with the flow — now I set goals and stick to them. It’s like my whole attitude shifted.” ~ Bongani Mavundla “I used to think management was only for people in suits. This learnership made me realise leadership starts with small habits — time management, responsibility, teamwork. I’ve gained skills I’ll use for life.” ~ Thabiso Mashego “I’ve always wanted to be someone people look up to, and now I feel like I’m on the right path. I learnt how to manage conflict, run meetings, and think like a leader. Thanks to Providing Skills, I now have something solid on my CV and in my future.” ~ Happy Thusi “The support we got from the academy was next level. They didn’t just teach us – they motivated us. I used to be late all the time, but this course taught me how to manage my time and become more professional.” ~ Karabo Kekana
Skills development
WSP, ATR Pivotal Reporting
What is a Mandatory Grant?
What is a Discretionary Grant?
The WSP & ATR reports are compulsory for businesses that require Skills Development to be recognised on their B-BBEE Scorecard.
Mandatory Grants cannot be claimed back from your SETA
No points for the Skills Development Element on your B-BBEE Scorecard
A drop in your B-BBEE Level as Skills Development is a Priority Element
Testimonials
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