
Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority MerSETA
The Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA was one of 23 SETA's that were established in terms of the Skills Development Act passed by the South African Parliament in 1998. It began functioning in 2000 and continues to do so.
Like all other SETA's that were established at this time, the MerSETA, as it became known, was to play a central role in terms of ensuring that the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) of South Africa was fulfilled.
The sub-sector traditionally covered by the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA
The MerSETA was set up initially to facilitate skills development, education and training in the following areas:
- metal and engineering
- auto manufacturing
- motor retail and component manufacturing
- tyre manufacturing
- the plastics industries
Together, these five sub-sectors are represented by around 44 000 companies which, at the time the MerSETA was established in 2000, had a workforce of around 600 000 people.
The total levy income for this sector at the time was estimated to be R600 000-million.
How the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA is set to change
Although the removal of the motor and petrol retail sub-sectors from the MerSETA may appear to be a minor change, the MerSETA landscape changes quite radically with the extraction of both these critical sub-sectors. They will be moved to the Wholesale and Retail SETA (W&RSETA) which was only established and accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) in 2001.
This is an interesting development since the initial W&RSETA was seen as one of the lesser SETA's in the beginning. However in the past decade, it has become what it describes "one of the leading SETAs in the implementation of the National Skills Development Strategy".
Nevertheless the MerSETA will continue to facilitate the develop of skills relating to the motor (or auto) industry and will play a pivotal role in the general engineering sector, particularly in relation to the full spectrum of manufacturing.

Discretionary grants and levies
Whilst some SETA's have collected levies since their formation in 2000, the MerSETA has traditionally received levies that were collected by the South African Department of Labour. Of these, 70% of the levies collected by the Department have been disbursed as grants, while according to the SETA, 10% were kept for the purposes of paying for administration.
Generally funding of SETA"s is from skills development levies paid by employers in the sector. Funding also comes from the Government's National Skills Fund as well as various discretionary grants and donations. Where investments are made, this money is also used for funding, as is any money that is charged for in terms of services the SETA may provide.
The MerSETA's role in terms of education and training
Like most South African SETA's, the existing MerSETA doesn't train learners, but rather facilitates the process that enables them to train. This includes specifically:
- paying discretionary grants to enable learners to gain training
- registering moderators and assessors who ensure that the level of education is up to standard required
- identifying skills that are needed in the industry, particularly those that are scarce
- accrediting training providers so that those institutions and organisations offering college courses, and any other type of short course, management course and so on, is up to standard
- monitoring the quality of training within this particular sector
- implementing projects that will help to close the skills gap as quickly as possible
MerSETA Jobs and Courses available in South Africa

Where to find the MerSETA,
MERSETA Contact Details.
MERSETA Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA is based in Gauteng, in Parktown,
Merseta Contact Number: (011) 544-1316
Merseta Fax Number: (011) 484-8620
To login to the MERSETA you must go to the MERSETA website and clickon login merseta.
Email: info@merseta.org.za Website:http://www.merseta.org.za
Merseta also have offices in Cape Town and Durban
Manufacturing Engineering & Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority MERSETA 17/MERSETA/1/04/20
The valid Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes must be used for Employment Tax Incentive (ETI) purposes. The latest SIC Coding system can be found Here or at Statistic SA www.statssa.gov.za. The Code for merseta is 17.
SIC Code | Activity Description |
---|---|
33431 | Manufacture of plastic bags. |
33711 | Manufacture of tyres and tubes. |
33712 | Rebuilding and re - threading of tyres. |
33790 | Manufacture of other rubber products. |
33791 | Calendaring. |
33792 | Compounding. |
33801 | Injection moulding |
33802 | Blow moulding. |
33803 | Extrusion. |
33804 | Plastics processes. |
35101 | Basic iron and steel industries, except steel pipe and tube mills. |
35102 | Steel pipe and tube mills. |
35201 | Refining or precious metals, e.g. gold, silver, platinum. |
35202 | Manufacture of primary non -ferrous metal products, excluding precious metals |
35310 | Casting of iron and steel. |
35320 | Casting of non -ferrous metals. |
35411 | Manufacture and /or repairs of movable structure and other metal parts. |
35412 | Manufacture of basic metals, fabricated metal products. Machinery and equipment. |
35419 | Manufacture and /or repairs of structural metal products and components including doors, windows and gates |
35420 | Manufacture of tanks, reservoirs and similar containers of metal. |
35430 | Manufacture of steam generators, except central heating hot water boilers |
35510 | Forging, pressing, stamping and roll- forming of metal; powder metallurgy. |
35520 | Treatment and coating of metals; general mechanical engineering on a fee or contract. |
35521 |
Treating and coating of metals |
35522 |
General mechanical engineering on a fee or contract basis. |
35530 |
Manufacture of cutlery, hand tools and general hardware. |
35592 |
Manufacture of cables and wire products. |
35593 |
Manufacture of springs (all types). |
35594 |
Manufacture of metal fasteners. |
35599 |
Manufacture of other metal products n.e.c |
35610 |
Manufacture of engines and turbines, except aircraft, vehicle and motor cycle engine. |
35620 |
Manufacture of pumps, compressors, taps and valves. |
35630 |
Manufacture of bearings, gears, gearing and driving elements |
35640 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of ovens, furnaces, burners excluding refractory work and products. |
35650 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of lifting and handling equipment. |
35690 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of other general purpose machinery. |
35691 |
Air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, and its design and installation. |
35710 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of agricultural and forestry machinery. |
35720 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of machinery and tools. |
35730 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of machinery for metallurgy |
35740 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of machinery for mining, quarrying and construction |
35750 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of machinery for food, beverage and tobacco processing. |
35760 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of machinery for textile, apparel and leather production. |
35770 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of weapons and ammunition |
35780 |
35780 Manufacture and /or repairs of installation of pneumatic and hydraulic systems. |
35800 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of household appliances n.e.c. |
35900 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of office, accounting and computing machinery |
35901 |
Retail sale of new motor vehicle parts and accessories. |
35903 |
Tow truck services where towing services are ancillary services to an enterprise where the core business is panel beating. |
35904 |
Powder shelving. |
36100 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of electric motors, generators and transformers |
36200 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of electricity distribution and control apparatus |
36300 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of insulated wire and cable. |
36501 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of electric bulbs and fluorescent tubes. |
36502 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of laminated signs and advertising displays. |
36600 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of other electrical equipment n.e.c. |
36601 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of electrical machinery and apparatus n.e.c |
37100 |
Manufacture of electronic valves and tubes and other electronic components |
37200 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of television and radio transmitters and apparatus for line telephony and line telegraphy. |
37300 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of television and radio receivers, sound or video recording or reproducing apparatus and associated goods. |
37420 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of instruments and appliances for measuring, checking, testing, navigating and for other purposes except industrial process control equipment. |
37430 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of industrial process control equipment |
37500 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of optical instruments and photographic equipment |
38000 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of transport equipment. |
38100 |
Manufacture of motor vehicles |
38101 |
Manufacture and assembly of motor vehicles. |
38200 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of bodies (coachwork) for motor vehicles; manufacture of trailers and semi -trailers |
38300 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of parts and accessories for motor vehicles and their engines |
38301 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of radiators. |
38302 |
Activities of specialised automotive engineering workshops working primarily for the motor trade. |
38309 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of other motor vehicle parts and accessories |
38410 |
Building and repairing of ships |
38420 |
Building and repairing of pleasure and sporting boats |
38500 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock |
38600 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of aircraft and spacecraft |
38710 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of motor cycles. |
38720 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of bicycles and invalid carriages. |
38790 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of other transport equipment n.e.c. |
39001 |
Rotational moulding. |
39002 |
Dip coating. |
39003 |
Compression mouldingter your text here... |
39004 |
Cast moulding. |
39101 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of furniture made predominantly of metal. |
39102 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of furniture made predominantly of plastic materials |
39521 |
Recycling of plastic materials |
50392 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of sprinklers |
50492 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of water proofing products. |
50550 |
Manufacture of resistant and insulation material. |
61400 |
Wholesale trade in non -agricultural intermediate products, waste and scrap |
61490 |
Wholesale trade in other intermediate products, waste and scrap. |
63121 |
Retail sale of new motor vehicles |
63201 |
General repairs |
63202 |
Electrical repairs of motor vehicles. |
63203 |
Radiator repairs |
63204 |
Body repairs. |
63205 |
Sale, service, fitting, maintenance and repair of new and used cars |
63209 |
Other maintenance and repairs n.e.c |
63312 |
Sale, service and fitting of car accessories |
63313 |
Sale of used parts and accessories from metal scrap -yards. |
63314 |
Sale fitting and service of new and used tyres |
63320 |
Sale of used parts and accessories |
63402 |
Sale, service, fitting, maintenance and repair of new and used motor cycles |
86015 |
Manufacture and /or repairs of alarm systems |
88201 |
Precision engineering. |