Sector Education & Training Authority
Skills Framework for the Information Age
Building Capacity and Capability for Excellence
Framework Version 1.0 | November 2025
Services SETA is one of 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities in South Africa, established to facilitate skills development in the services sector. As a Level 1 BBBEE contributor and 100% Black-owned public entity, Services SETA operates under the Skills Development Act (1998) to address the skills needs of approximately 191,170 employers across 68 Standard Industrial Classification Codes grouped into 16 subsectors and six chambers.
Vision: A flourishing services sector that cultivates inclusive opportunities for all South Africans.
Mission: To facilitate skills development for employment and entrepreneurship in the services sector, fostering economic growth.
The Corporate Services department plays a critical role in supporting Services SETA's mission by providing integrated support across key organizational functions including ICT, Human Resources, Marketing & Communications, Records Management, and Facilities Management.
This SFIA-based competency framework defines the skills, knowledge, and capabilities required within Services SETA's Corporate Services business unit to deliver excellence in organizational support functions and enable the achievement of strategic objectives.
Aligned with Services SETA's Strategic Plan (2020-2025) and Annual Performance Plan (2024/25), this framework supports Outcome 1: Enhanced organizational capabilities to deliver the strategy (NSDP) and drives organizational performance.
Enables structured career development, supports recruitment and selection, facilitates skills gap analysis, guides training and development initiatives, and ensures consistent performance management across Corporate Services functions.
The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) uses 7 levels of responsibility, from Level 1 (Follow) to Level 7 (Set strategy). Each level represents increasing autonomy, influence, complexity, and business skills.
Follow
Works under close supervisionAssist
Works with routine guidanceApply
Works under general directionEnable
Works under broad directionEnsure/Advise
Fully accountable for areaInitiate/Influence
Sets policy and standardsSet strategy
Leads organizational strategyPurpose: Provide an integrated, efficient, and innovative ICT service that enables organizational performance through modernized infrastructure and systems.
Purpose: Facilitate improved organizational performance through effective people, processes, and systems management while maintaining optimal workforce capacity.
Purpose: Expand stakeholder participation by promoting access to services across all subsectors and provinces while growing organizational visibility and brand strength.
Purpose: Ensure reporting on financial matters aligns with legislative requirements and maintain sound supply chain management systems as prescribed by PFMA.
Purpose: Ensure governance structures and processes are established, capacitated, and maintained while implementing enterprise-wide risk and fraud management frameworks.
Purpose: Implement robust records management policies ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements while maintaining record integrity and accessibility.
Purpose: Manage organizational facilities and ensure occupational health and safety compliance while supporting infrastructure development initiatives across rural and urban areas.
Purpose: Conduct research to inform decision-making including strategy development, organizational performance monitoring, and development of strategic and annual performance plans.
The following scenarios demonstrate practical career progression paths within Corporate Services, mapped to SFIA levels with specific learning interventions delivered by Deviare and timeframes.
Profile: Sipho Mthembu, Junior IT Officer (SFIA Level 2) interested in cybersecurity
Goal: Become Cybersecurity Manager (SFIA Level 5) within 4-5 years
Target: IT Security Analyst (SCTY Level 3)
Practical Project: Lead the implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA) for Services SETA's internal systems, documenting security improvements and user adoption metrics.
Target: Senior Cybersecurity Analyst (SCTY Level 4)
Practical Project: Design and implement Services SETA's Security Operations Center (SOC) framework, including incident response procedures and security monitoring dashboards.
Target: Cybersecurity Manager (SCTY/ITMG Level 5)
Practical Project: Lead Services SETA's cybersecurity transformation program, including vendor management for security tools (R5M budget), building team of 5 security analysts, and presenting quarterly reports to Accounting Authority.
Position: Cybersecurity Manager | Salary Range: R650,000 - R850,000 p.a.
Responsibilities: Leading enterprise security strategy, managing security team, CISO advisory role, board reporting on security posture, R10M security budget management
Profile: Thandi Nkosi, HR Administrator (SFIA Level 2)
Goal: Become Workforce Planning Manager (WFPL Level 5) within 3-4 years
Target: HR Practitioner (RESC Level 3)
Practical Project: Conduct comprehensive workforce analysis for Services SETA's 2024/25 year, identifying critical vacancies and succession risks across all departments.
Target: Senior HR Practitioner (WFPL Level 4)
Practical Project: Design and implement Services SETA's talent management framework, including competency assessments for all 150+ staff members and development of succession plans for 20 critical positions.
Target: Workforce Planning Manager (WFPL Level 5)
Practical Project: Lead Services SETA's comprehensive workforce transformation including: implementing new HRIS system, redesigning performance management to align with SFIA, reducing occupancy gaps from 85% to 95%, and building talent pipeline for critical skills.
Position: Workforce Planning Manager | Salary Range: R580,000 - R750,000 p.a.
Responsibilities: Strategic workforce planning, talent analytics, succession planning, organizational design, 85% PDP implementation, reporting to Executive Manager Corporate Services
Profile: Lerato Mabaso, Senior Accounts Clerk (SFIA Level 2)
Goal: Become SCM Compliance Manager (COMP Level 5) within 5 years
Target: Junior Accountant (FINA Level 3)
Practical Project: Conduct audit of Services SETA's supplier payment processes, identify bottlenecks, and implement improvements that reduce payment cycle from 30 to 15 days for compliant invoices.
Target: SCM Practitioner (SUPP/COMP Level 4)
Practical Project: Lead comprehensive review of Services SETA's supplier database, implement supplier development program for SMMEs (aligned with Level 1 BBBEE targets), and establish quarterly supplier performance scorecards affecting R200M+ annual spend.
Target: SCM Compliance Manager (COMP Level 5)
Practical Project: Design and implement Services SETA's SCM compliance framework to address AGSA audit findings, including: automated compliance checks in procurement system, quarterly compliance reporting to Audit Committee, supplier development initiatives, and 100% achievement of compliance action plans (current target).
Position: SCM Compliance Manager | Salary Range: R620,000 - R800,000 p.a.
Responsibilities: SCM policy development, compliance monitoring, supplier management, tender committee oversight, irregular expenditure prevention, reporting to CFO and Audit Committee
Profile: Zanele Khumalo, Junior Communications Officer (SFIA Level 2)
Goal: Become Stakeholder Engagement Manager (RLMT Level 5) within 4 years
Target: Communications Specialist (COML Level 3)
Practical Project: Lead Services SETA's refreshed corporate identity rollout, including brand guidelines update, stakeholder communications plan, and launch of 30 career guidance events across 6 provinces.
Target: Senior Communications Specialist (RLMT Level 4)
Practical Project: Design and execute Services SETA's annual stakeholder engagement strategy including 6 chamber committee meetings, 20+ employer roadshows, 171 stakeholder touchpoints, and quarterly stakeholder satisfaction surveys achieving 75%+ rating.
Target: Stakeholder Engagement Manager (RLMT Level 5)
Practical Project: Lead Services SETA's comprehensive stakeholder engagement transformation including: development of stakeholder segmentation strategy, implementation of CRM for stakeholder management, coordination of 74 strategic partnerships, quarterly chamber operations reporting, and achievement of 160+ annual stakeholder engagements supporting R1.93B revenue collection.
Position: Stakeholder Engagement Manager | Salary Range: R550,000 - R720,000 p.a.
Responsibilities: Stakeholder strategy, partnership development, chamber operations coordination, brand management, corporate communications, team of 6 specialists, reporting to EM Strategic Partnerships & Collaborations
Profile: Mpho Dlamini, Risk & Compliance Officer (SFIA Level 3)
Goal: Become Chief Risk Officer (BURM Level 6) within 5-6 years
Target: Senior Risk Manager (BURM Level 4)
Practical Project: Lead comprehensive risk assessment of Services SETA's R2.3B commitment register, develop mitigation strategies, implement quarterly risk reporting to Governance Risk & Strategy Committee, achieve 100% risk action plan implementation.
Target: Head of Risk (BURM Level 5)
Practical Project: Design and implement Services SETA's integrated assurance framework coordinating internal audit, external audit (AGSA), risk management, compliance monitoring - contributing to reduction of audit findings from qualified to unqualified opinion target.
Target: Chief Risk Officer (BURM/GOVN Level 6)
Practical Project: Lead Services SETA's transformation to clean audit status through: strategic oversight of risk and compliance programs, monthly reporting to CEO and EXCO, quarterly presentations to Audit Committee and Board, enterprise-wide culture of risk awareness, integration of risk management into strategic planning processes supporting R1.93B entity.
Position: Chief Risk Officer | Salary Range: R950,000 - R1,350,000 p.a.
Responsibilities: Enterprise risk strategy, board advisory on risk appetite, integrated assurance coordination, fraud prevention oversight, compliance program leadership, team of 12+ professionals, reporting to CEO with direct line to Audit Committee
Essential learning programs from Deviare applicable across all Corporate Services functions to support capability development:
Introduction to Business Analysis - 1.4 hrs e-learning
Understanding business processes and requirements
Business Analytics with Excel - e-learning
Data analysis and reporting fundamentals
Agile Scrum Foundation - 16 hrs live + 1.43 hrs e-learning
Essential for Level 3 to 4 transition
Agile Scrum Master - 20 hrs live + 4.5 hrs e-learning
Essential for Level 4 to 5 transition
Programming Basics and Data Analytics with Python - 40 hrs live + 1.68 hrs e-learning
Python for data analysis and automation
Data Analytics with R - 40 hrs live + 5.66 hrs e-learning
Statistical analysis and data visualization
PMP Training with Exam - 36 hrs live + 40 hrs e-learning
PMI Project Management Professional certification
Critical for Level 4+ roles managing initiatives
ITIL 4 Foundation - 16 hrs live + 2.4 hrs e-learning
Essential for all ICT-adjacent roles
Foundation of IT service management
ITIL 4 Specialist: Drive Stakeholder Value - 6 hrs e-learning
Advanced stakeholder management
Generative AI in Data Analytics - 4 hrs live
AI-powered analytics and insights
Generative AI Governance - 4 hrs live
AI governance and ethical implementation
Services SETA offers multiple funding mechanisms to support employee development through Deviare's training programs:
Services SETA allocated R5.6M+ to staff training in 2023/24, achieving 83% PDP implementation. Employees can access:
As Services SETA employees, staff can access discretionary grant-funded learning programs:
| Function | From (Level) | To (Level) | Timeline | Key Deviare Courses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICT | Junior IT Officer (L2) | Cybersecurity Manager (L5) | 4-5 years | CompTIA Security+, CEH, CISSP, PMP |
| HR | HR Administrator (L2) | Workforce Planning Manager (L5) | 3-4 years | Data Analytics with R/Python, CBAP, PMP |
| Finance/SCM | Accounts Clerk (L2) | SCM Compliance Manager (L5) | 5 years | Business Analytics, CBAP, Agile Scrum Master, PMP |
| Marketing | Communications Officer (L2) | Stakeholder Engagement Manager (L5) | 4 years | Digital Marketing, ITIL 4 Stakeholder Value, CBAP, PMP |
| Governance | Risk Officer (L3) | Chief Risk Officer (L6) | 5-6 years | CCSP, CISSP, Azure Security, Leading SAFe |
Note: All courses listed are available through Deviare's master catalogue and can be delivered via e-learning, live virtual classes, or blended learning formats. Services SETA typically funds 60-80% of career-relevant development through internal budgets and SETA programs.
Maintain 80%+ annual performance ratings, demonstrate competence at current level before progression
Obtain required NQF level qualifications for target roles (typically NQF 6 for L4, NQF 7+ for L5)
Earn industry-recognized credentials through Deviare (CISSP, CEH, CBAP, PMP, etc.)
Lead progressively complex projects, demonstrate competencies through work outputs
Engage with professional bodies, find mentors, participate in industry forums
Complete 80%+ of PDPs annually through Deviare's platform, pursue continuous professional development (CPD)