On 11 June 2026 Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr. Blade Nzimande’s successor, Minister Manamela, confirmed a significant shift in South Africa’s skills and qualifications landscape: a range of legacy N4–N6 certificates and national diplomas registered before 2009 have reached their registration end dates and are being phased out. The changes mark a deliberate move to replace older qualification sets with a modern, occupationally focused framework that places workplace experience at the centre of learning and accreditation.

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) are implementing a transition from legacy qualifications and hope to introduce an occupational qualifications model designed to better align education with labour market needs.

The reform’s core objectives are to:

  • Prioritise demonstrable workplace competence and practical experience;
  • Improve employer confidence that graduates can perform on the job from day one;
  • Reduce duplication and obsolete credentials within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF); and
  • Strengthen pathways between education, apprenticeships, and employment.

SAQA has clarified that while these older qualifications are being formally phased out following their registration end dates, they remain recorded on the National Learner Records Database (NLRD). As SAQA spokesperson Rakgwatha Mokou said, the qualifications “remain valid” even after registration lapses, learners who hold such credentials are not being stripped of their achievements, but training providers and employers must now work within a changing regulatory environment.

Implications for learners and employers.

  • If an individual holds an N4–N6 or pre-2009 diploma, the certificate remains on the NLRD and retains value. However, as the system pivots to occupational qualifications, they may need to demonstrate workplace experience or undertake bridging assessments to match new occupational standards.
  • Current students should seek clarity from their training providers and SETAs about completion options, transitional arrangements, and whether bridging or recognition of prior learning (RPL) pathways apply.

 

Employers

  • Businesses should expect changes in how qualifications are presented by candidates; employers will increasingly need to evaluate demonstrable competencies and workplace experience rather than relying solely on legacy certificates. iFacts has a range of skill assessments that can be used to assist in this process.
  • HR and talent teams should update recruitment, graduate intake and skills-development practices to recognise occupational qualifications and design workplace learning opportunities (internships, apprenticeships, on-the-job assessments).

The DHET/SAQA reforms are a necessary step toward making skills outcomes more relevant to the workplace, but they also create short-term complexity for institutions, employers and learners.

South Africa’s shift toward occupational qualifications reflects global trends: skills, not just certificates, increasingly define employability. The DHET/SAQA changes present both a challenge and an opportunity to better connect learning with real work, to produce graduates who can contribute from the outset, and to realign training ecosystems for a fast-evolving labour market.

iFacts stands ready to support learners, employers and training institutions in this transition with scalable, compliant services that validate competence, strengthen workplace readiness, and bridge the gap between the qualification held and the skills the workplace demands.