The publication of Government Gazette No. 54858 on 17 June 2026 has provided long-awaited clarity regarding the future of pre-2009 qualifications, trades and regulatory unit standards.

For many employers, training providers, learners and skills development facilitators (SDFs), uncertainty around the transition to occupational qualifications has created concern regarding planning, learner enrolment and future workplace skills development initiatives.

The recently published Directive on the Implementation and Transitional Arrangements for Pre-2009 Qualifications, Trades and Regulatory Unit Standards now confirm government’s approach and outlines the final transitional arrangements that will guide the sector towards a fully implemented occupational qualifications system.

How we got here
The transition from legacy qualifications towards occupational qualifications has been underway for several years.

Occupational qualifications were introduced to create stronger alignment between education, workplace requirements and labour market needs. Unlike many legacy qualifications, occupational qualifications integrate three critical components:

• Knowledge and theory
• Practical skills development
• Structured workplace experience
  
  

The intention is to improve learner employability while ensuring that qualifications remain relevant to industry requirements and national economic priorities.

As implementation deadlines approached, concerns were raised across the post-school education and training (PSET) sector regarding the readiness of replacement qualifications, accreditation processes, learner impact and workplace implementation capacity.

These concerns led to significant engagement between the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), SETAs and industry stakeholders.

The Minister’s position
During the recent media briefing process, Minister of Higher Education and Training Mr Buti Manamela emphasised that government remains committed to completing the transition to occupational qualifications.

At the same time, government acknowledged the practical realities facing employers, training providers and learners.

The published directive therefore seeks to balance two important objectives:

• Protecting learners already participating in the system
• Accelerating the implementation of occupational qualifications

The Gazette specifically states that government recognises the importance of a managed and credible transition while supporting national skills development priorities.

What has been confirmed?
The Gazette confirms that transitional extensions have been granted for selected pre-2009 qualifications, trades and regulatory unit standards.

Rather than applying a blanket extension across all programmes, government has adopted a differentiated approach based on qualification readiness and sector requirements.

Extension periods
The Gazette confirms the following extension framework:

Pre-2009 qualifications

• Extensions ranging from 6 to 24 months
  
  

Regulatory unit standards

• Extensions of up to 36 months
  
  

Trades not yet registered as occupational qualifications

• Extensions of up to 12 months
  
  

Detailed qualification schedules and extension dates are being published by SAQA and should be reviewed carefully by employers and training providers.

Existing qualifications remain valid
One of the most important messages emerging from both the Minister’s communication and the Gazette is that qualifications already achieved remain valid and recognised.

Learner achievements already uploaded to the National Learners’ Records Database (NLRD) continue to be recognised in accordance with existing legislation and articulation policies.

This means that individuals who have completed legacy qualifications do not lose the value of their qualifications as a result of the transition process.

What about NATED qualifications?
The Gazette specifically notes that no new enrolment extensions have been granted for NATED programmes because separate teach-out arrangements have already been implemented through previous DHET circulars.

However, learners already participating in approved NATED pathways remain protected through those teach-out arrangements and are encouraged to complete their studies.

This provides important certainty for both learners and employers currently supporting N4 to N6 studies.

Why occupational qualifications matter
The transition is not simply an administrative exercise.

Government’s long-term objective is to create a qualifications framework that produces graduates with skills that are directly relevant to the workplace.

Occupational qualifications place a stronger emphasis on:

• Workplace experience
• Practical competence
• Industry relevance
• Employment readiness
• Quality assurance
  
  

This approach aims to strengthen the relationship between training and employment outcomes while supporting economic growth and national development priorities.

What this means for employers
The publication of the Gazette should not be viewed as a pause in the transition process.

Instead, it provides organisations with a final opportunity to prepare for the future skills development landscape.

Employers should now:

Review existing programmes
Assess all current learnerships, skills programmes and qualification-based interventions to determine whether they are affected by the transitional arrangements.

Understand qualification timelines
Review the qualification schedules published by SAQA to determine the specific enrolment and achievement deadlines applicable to each programme.

Plan for occupational qualifications
Begin identifying replacement occupational qualifications that align with organisational skills requirements.

Strengthen workplace learning
Occupational qualifications rely heavily on workplace experience and employer participation.

Organisations should consider how workplace learning opportunities can be expanded and structured to support future implementation.

Align skills development strategy

Workplace skills plans, annual training reports and broader talent development strategies should increasingly incorporate occupational qualifications as part of long-term workforce planning.

What this means for training providers
Training providers should use the extension periods responsibly and strategically.

The Gazette makes it clear that these are final transitional arrangements.

Providers should therefore focus on:

• Supporting existing learner completions
• Preparing for occupational qualification delivery
• Obtaining required accreditation where necessary
• Strengthening workplace partnerships
• Assisting employers with transition planning
  
  

The expectation from government is that all stakeholders actively support the move towards the new qualification’s framework.

Skills College perspective
Skills College welcomes the additional clarity provided through the publication of the Gazette and the confirmation of transitional arrangements.

We are currently reviewing the detailed qualification schedules and extension periods published by SAQA and will continue providing clients with qualification-specific guidance as further information becomes available.

Organisations that begin preparing now will be better positioned to navigate the transition successfully while continuing to maximise the value of their skills development investments.