Research, Planning and Reporting

Submitted by dan on October 8, 2024

The Research, Planning and Reporting department is established under the Core Business of the CETA. The department is responsible for conducting research; developing the Sector Skills Plan (SSP) and career guides; analysis of Workplace Skills Plans (WSPs) and Annual Training Reports (ATRs) submitted by employers; and compiling Quarterly Monitoring Reports (QMR) submitted to the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The department is informed by the National Skills Development Strategy III Goal 4.1 which speaks to establishing a credible institutional mechanism for skills planning. The goal states the need for credible information and analysis with regards to the supply and demand for skills. The DHET has further emphasised the provision of credible information, analysis and signals on the demand and supply of skills as an important contribution to the establishment of the institutional mechanism for skills planning in South Africa.

Through the research conducted and various reporting mechanisms put in place, the Unit aims to ensure that the information produced through its strategic planning documents, remain relevant to both the Built Environment industry and the skills development needs of the country.

Research
The CETA has developed a Strategic Research Framework informed by the Sector Skills Plan. In accordance with the Skills Development Act 1998 Section 10(1) (a) each SETA is required to develop a Sector Skills Plan (SSP) within the framework of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS). The purpose of a SSP is to: 

  • Determine skills development priorities after an analysis of the skills demand and trends, and supply issues within the sectors
  • Identify a set of sector specific objectives and goals that will meet sector needs, economic or industrial sector growth strategies, and meet scarce and critical skills in the sector
  • Identify strategies to address these objectives and goals
  • Identify activities that will support these strategies
  • Implement and resource these activities
  • Report on performance in relation to these objectives and goals


The CETA has approved funding to conduct research in line with the research agendas approved by AA. This research agenda includes: 

  • Conducting tracer studies (destination surveys) for CETA funded learners as at the end of NSDS III period in 2016. 
  • Conduct sectoral analysis and model labour market skills using Labour Market Information (LMI) and produce a List of Occupations in High Demand within the construction sector 
  • Develop models for skills forecasting and methodologies to identify skills needs within the construction sector covering: Economic State of the Construction Industry 
  • Supply Side Research 
  • Demand Side Research 
  • Partnership Development 
  • Project Development 
  • Progression of learners in the Construction Sector 


Skills Development Levy
The accounting policy for the recognition and measurement of skills development levy income is based on the Skills Development Act, Act No 97 of 1998, as amended and the Skills Development Levies Act, Act No 9 of 1999, as amended. 
In terms of section 3(1) and 3(4) of the Skills Development Levies Act, 1999 (Act No. 9 of 1999) as amended, registered member companies of the CETA pay a skills development levy of 1% of the total payroll cost to the South African Revenue Services (SARS).

How to register for the Skills Development Levy (SDL) 

  • SDL is a levy imposed to encourage learning and development in South Africa and is determined by an employer's salary bill.
  • The funds are to be used to develop and improve skills of employees.
  • All liable organisations register for the SDL via the EMP101 form (application for registration) for which SARS issues an EMP103 form (notice of registration) on successful registration of the employer. 

 
Leviable amount

  • SDL is due by employers who have been registered and received and SDL number (e.g. LXXX XXX XXX)
  • The amount payable is calculated as 1% (one percent) of the total amount of remuneration paid to employees and is calculated over the CETAs financial year.
  • Note: Where an employer expects that the total salaries will be more than R500 000 over the next 12 months, that employer becomes liable to pay the skills development levy
  • Entites must pay skill development levy to SARS with seven day
  • The levy must be paid within seven days after the end of the month during which the amount was deducted. If the last day for payment falls on a public holiday or weekend, the payment must be made on the last business day before the public holiday or weekend directly to SARS.

 
What happens to the SDL Levy?
The levies are distributed by SARS to SETAs as per the registration.  The CETA in this case will then distribute a percentage of the levies received back to qualifying employers who meet the set criteria to receive Mandatory and/or Discretionary Grants.  These grants are to be used for the implementation of skills development interventions
 
Mandatory Grants
In terms of the skills development grant regulations, a mandatory grant is a grant payable to levy paying companies upon submission of a Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training (ATR) Report by 30 April of each year. In terms of section 6(3) of the Regulations, the CETA shall pay back 20% of the total levies paid by the employer.  Once evaluated and approved then the company receives their grants based on training completed in the previous years and planned for the new year.

If the company is a first time participant, then the company will only submit a Workplace Skills Plan as only planning can be completed in the first year of participation.  In the following year, the new entrant will then be in a position to submit both the Annual Training Report and Workplace Skills Plan to CETA once approved, and then be liable to receive 20% of the Mandatory Grant allocation.  What is not claimed by the levy paying companies is then transferred to Discretionary Grants.
 
The Skills Development Facilitator
As a mandatory requirement, an organisation is required to appoint a Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) to represent the needs of the organisation as well as communicate with the CETA. The prospective/new stakeholder can choose to either appoint someone internally (normally someone within a training and development role or Human Resources as their SDF. Stakeholders also reserve the right to appoint someone externally to provide this service.
 
The functions of an SDF are to:

  • Assist the employer and employees to develop and submit a Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) which complies with the requirements of the CETA
  • Advise the employer on the implementation of the WSP by conducting a training needs analysis to identify training requirements for the development of its employees and training plan
  • Assist the employer to draft an Annual Training Report (ATR) on the implementation of the WSP.
  • Act as a contact person between the employer and the CETA
  • Communicate CETA initiatives, grants and benefits to the employer

  
An SDF can also assume the following roles:

  • Facilitator: To facilitate the development of an employer’s skills development strategy
  • Expert: To serve as an expert resource for accrediting the employer as a training provider and for the implementation of appropriate Learnerships and skills programmes
  • Administrator: To complete and submit the WSP and ATR
  • Advisor: To advise the employers and employees on the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) and on the implementation of the WSP to address scarce and critical skills in the sector
  • Education and needs evaluator: To assess the skills development needs of the organisation through a needs analysis process, collection of individual development plans and/or identified regulatory training
  • Mediator: To serve as a contact person between the employer and the CETA

  
It is paramount that each appointed SDF registers themselves onto the CETA Indicium System prior to the due date in order to familiarise themselves with the system and ensure a timely submission.  The system is open by the 1st of February of each year and capacity building workshops are conducted per province on an annual bases in the same month.

The system can be accessed by using this link : CETA Indicium


Note that you need scanned copies of a Signed Letter of Appointment as an SDF (On Company Letterhead) and a Copy of your ID before you attempt to register as an SDF.

Discretionary Grants
This is applicable to companies that would like to implement priority training interventions as identified and advertised by the CETA based on PIVOTAL (Professional, Vocational, Technical and Academic Learning Programmes) programmes in the Annual Performance Plan (APP) and Sector Skills Plan (SSP).
 
Communication is advertised via the CETA website - www.ceta.org.za and major newspapers (such as the Sunday Times and City Press) on an annual basis to all CETA stakeholders and public on priority Skills Development projects that will benefit the Construction Sector.

The Unit oversees the review and update of the following strategic planning documents:

  • Sector Skills Plan
  • Strategic Plan
  • Annual Performance Plan

THE DEPARTMENT CONTACT DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Senior Manager - Research, Planning and Reporting:

Ms Jolene Shaw

Tel: 010 265 5953

Email: jolenes@ceta.co.za