LGSETA Strengthens Career Guidance Through National Outreach Initiatives

The Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA) continues to strengthen its commitment to career guidance by taking education, skills development and career information directly to communities across South Africa. Through strategic partnerships with government, municipalities, SETAs, higher education institutions and other stakeholders, LGSETA is empowering learners and unemployed youth to make informed decisions about their futures while expanding awareness of opportunities within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) system.

During July and August 2026, LGSETA participated in and hosted a series of career exhibitions that reached thousands of learners across the Eastern Cape and Gauteng, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to ensuring that no young person is left behind in accessing education and skills development opportunities.

Bringing Opportunities to Rural Communities in Bizana

 On 24 July 2026, LGSETA hosted the Bizana Career Expo at Maqongwana Senior Secondary School in the Eastern Cape in partnership with Honourable Yanga Govana. The exhibition brought together more than 1,100 Grade 11 and 12 learners, as well as unemployed youth, creating a platform where participants could access information on career pathways, post-school education opportunities, bursaries, workplace learning and skills development programmes.

Recognising that access to information should not be limited by geography, the expo focused on bringing career guidance directly to a deep rural community where learners often have fewer opportunities to engage with higher education institutions and skills development organisations.

The success of the event was made possible through the collaboration of several strategic partners, including AgriSETA, CETA, FASSET, W&RSETA, ETDP SETA, Eastern Cape CET College, MICT SETA, TETA, MQA and INSETA, all of whom joined LGSETA in providing learners with valuable guidance and information about opportunities available after school.

The exhibition reflected the power of partnership in expanding access to education and ensuring that young people, regardless of where they live, are equipped with the knowledge needed to pursue meaningful careers.

 Empowering Learners at the Orange Farm Career Exhibition

LGSETA continued its outreach efforts by participating in the Orange Farm Career Exhibition on 24 July 2026, where government departments, higher education institutions and skills development partners came together to empower Grade 12 learners and unemployed youth.

Hosted by the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education under the leadership of its Chairperson, Honourable Tebogo Letsie, the exhibition encouraged learners to explore the many opportunities available within South Africa’s PSET system.

Addressing learners, Honourable Letsie reminded them that their circumstances should never determine their future and encouraged them to seize every opportunity available to them.

Minister of Higher Education and Training, Honourable Buti Manamela, urged learners to begin planning for life after matric by applying early for further study and funding opportunities.

“Being informed empowers young people to make better decisions about their education and careers,”he said.

 During the exhibition, Minister Manamela visited the LGSETA exhibition stand, acknowledging the organisation’s ongoing contribution to career guidance and skills development.

 Closing Off Mandela Month Through Community Impact

 The LGSETA joined EWSETA in closing off Mandela Month on 31 July 2026 at Charlotte Maxeke Secondary School in Tembisa.

The initiative formed part of a collaborative effort to give back to the community while empowering young people through education and skills development. During the event, EWSETA donated school shoes to deserving learners, while LGSETA provided career guidance information, promoted skills development opportunities, and shared pathways to Post-School Education and Training (PSET).

The outreach created an opportunity for learners to engage directly with sector experts, gain valuable career information, and learn more about bursaries, learnerships, workplace-based learning opportunities, and careers within the local government sector.

Creating Greater Impact Through Partnerships

Across its outreach initiatives, LGSETA engaged directly with hundreds of learners and unemployed youth by providing information on:

• Bursaries
• Learnerships
• Workplace-Based Learning opportunities
• Careers within the local government sector
• Skills development programmes
• Post-School Education and Training (PSET) pathways

These engagements enabled young people to make informed career decisions while increasing awareness of the opportunities available through the skills development system.

The exhibitions and outreach activities also strengthened partnerships between LGSETA, government departments, municipalities, SETAs, universities, TVET colleges and CET colleges, demonstrating a shared commitment to building a skilled, capable and employable workforce.

By maintaining a strong and visible brand presence through professionally branded exhibition stands, banners, corporate identity materials and stakeholder engagement activities, LGSETA reinforced its position as a trusted partner in South Africa’s skills development landscape while continuing to honour Madiba’s legacy through meaningful community impact and skills development.