SETA Intern (seta_intern) — What It Means, How to Fix It and How to Appeal (not_seta_intern)
At a Glance: What To Do First
Confirm the exact month showing seta_intern on your SRD status portal. Check whether you were registered on a SETA learnership, internship, or related programme during that specific month and whether a stipend was paid to you. If you were active and receiving a stipend, the decline is correct for that period. If your programme ended before the assessed month, you were registered but received no stipend, or the record is incorrectly linked to your ID, you have grounds to appeal using not_seta_intern. Month-specific confirmation from your SETA is the most important document you can obtain before submitting.
What SETA Intern Means on the SRD Portal
When your SRD application shows SETA Intern, the automated SRD check detected a SETA programme record matched to your ID for the assessed month. SETA stands for Sector Education and Training Authority. SETAs administer learnerships, internships, apprenticeships, and skills programmes across different industry sectors in South Africa. A stipend paid through a SETA programme is treated as income for SRD assessment purposes.
The wording appears differently depending on which portal you are using:
SRD status portal (srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status): SETA Intern
SRD appeals portal (srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals/appeal): seta_intern
Your appeal reason on the appeals portal: not_seta_intern
Because SRD is assessed per month, the question is not whether you have ever been on a SETA programme but whether the record was active and a stipend was paid during the specific month that was declined. A programme that ended in October can still trigger a November decline if the record was not updated in time. Only that one month is affected once the record is corrected.
If you were genuinely active on a paid SETA programme during the assessed month, the decline is correct and an appeal is unlikely to succeed for that period.
What SETAs Are and Which Programmes Trigger This Decline
South Africa has 21 SETAs, each covering a specific sector of the economy. They are funded through the Skills Development Levy and are responsible for registering and administering workplace-based learning programmes across their sectors.
The programme types that can trigger a seta_intern decline include:
Learnerships. Structured learning programmes combining theoretical training with workplace experience, typically lasting 12 months. Learners receive a monthly stipend set by the SETA. The stipend is treated as income and can affect SRD eligibility for months it is received.
Internships. Work experience placements facilitated or recorded by a SETA. Stipend amounts vary and not all internships are paid. If the internship is recorded as active in the SETA database for the assessed month, it can trigger the decline even if no stipend was paid that month.
Apprenticeships. Trade-based training programmes leading to a trade test qualification. Apprentices receive a wage and are registered with the relevant SETA for their trade.
Skills programmes. Shorter structured programmes that form part of a qualification. Not all skills programmes include a stipend but if the programme is recorded as active in the assessed month, it may still trigger the match.
Youth employment schemes administered through SETAs. Various government-funded youth employment initiatives are administered through SETA structures and can result in records being held in SETA-linked databases.
If you are unsure which SETA administered your programme, check your learnership or internship contract, your acceptance letter, or any email correspondence from the training provider. The SETA name is usually stated in the programme documentation.
Common Causes Behind This SRD Decline
Active learnership or internship with stipend during the assessed month. The record correctly reflects that you were on a paid programme during the month in question. The decline is correct.
Programme completed but record not updated. When a learnership or internship ends, the SETA or training provider is responsible for updating the programme completion in the SETA database. This does not always happen immediately. Former learners can continue to show as active in the database for weeks or months after their programme ended.
Registered but stipend was zero for the assessed month. You were still registered as a learner during the assessed month but your stipend had ended, been suspended, or was not paid for that specific month. The registration record alone can trigger the match even without an actual payment.
Incorrect ID linkage. Your ID number is incorrectly linked to another learner’s programme record in the SETA database. This can happen due to a data capture error during learner registration at the training provider or SETA.
Programme ended but payment processed late. A final stipend payment or completion allowance was processed in a month after your last programme day, causing a payment record to appear for that later month even though your programme had already ended.
Multiple programme records. If you have participated in more than one SETA programme, older records may still appear as active even after you have moved on.
SETA Follow-Up: Get Month-Specific Confirmation Before You Appeal
Before submitting your appeal, contact the SETA or training provider that administered your programme and request written confirmation of your programme status and stipend for the specific assessed month. General confirmation that your programme has ended is not sufficient because ITSAA reviews each month separately and needs documentation covering the exact period in dispute.
What To Ask for So the Letter Works for SRD
Ask for confirmation of your programme start date and end date. Ask them to confirm specifically whether you were registered as active during the assessed month. Ask them to state your stipend status for the assessed month, either the amount paid or confirmation that the stipend was zero for that month. If you believe your ID is incorrectly linked to a programme, ask them to investigate whether any programme record exists under your ID number and to confirm in writing if no such record should exist.
Copy and Paste Email Template
Subject: Request for Programme Status and Stipend Confirmation — [Month Year] — SRD Decline: seta_intern
Message:
Dear [SETA Name or Training Provider Name],
I am writing to request official written confirmation of my programme status and stipend for [Month Year]. My SRD R370 grant application was declined for this month with the reason SETA Intern (seta_intern). I believe this may be an error and require official confirmation to support my appeal to ITSAA.
Full name: [Your full name as on your ID] ID number: [Your 13-digit ID number] Programme name: [Learnership or internship title if known] Training provider: [Name of training provider if different from SETA] Month in question: [Month and Year]
Please confirm in writing:
- Whether I was registered as an active participant on any SETA programme during [Month Year]
- My programme start date and end date
- Whether any stipend was paid to me during [Month Year] and if so, the amount
If no programme record exists under my ID, please confirm this in writing so I can submit it as evidence with my SRD appeal.
Thank you.
Services SETA Provincial Contacts
If your programme falls under Services SETA, use the relevant provincial office below. If your programme falls under a different SETA, contact that SETA directly. Your programme contract or acceptance letter will show the SETA name.
Gauteng (Johannesburg) Contact: Suzan Kgobe Phone: 087 283 2654 / 011 694 8681 Email: GautengPO@serviceseta.org.za Address: 20 Eton Road, Parktown, Johannesburg
KwaZulu-Natal (Durban) Contact: Hlengiwe Dube Phone: 087 283 2770 Email: HlengiweD@serviceseta.org.za Address: 73 Ramsay Avenue, Musgrave, Durban
Eastern Cape (Gqeberha) Contact: Xoli Bengeza Phone: 087 283 2269 Email: ecprovince@serviceseta.org.za Address: 75 Havelock Street, Gqeberha
Eastern Cape (East London) Phone: 087 283 2788 Address: 3 Elton Street, Southernwood, East London
Free State (Bloemfontein) Contact: Melisa Christians Phone: 087 283 2773 Email: MelisaC@serviceseta.org.za Address: 152 Nelson Mandela Drive, Ponzeda Building, Westdene, Bloemfontein
Northern Cape (Kimberley) Contact: Melisa Christians Phone: 087 283 2287 Email: MelisaC@serviceseta.org.za Address: 38A Sydney Street, Kimberley
Limpopo (Polokwane) Contact: Mary-Ann Posl Phone: 087 283 2798 Email: Mary-AnnP@serviceseta.org.za Address: 16 Market Street, Capricorn TVET College Central Office, Old Building, 0699
Mpumalanga (Nelspruit) Contact: Roelof Van Rooyen Phone: 087 283 2640 Email: RoelofVR@serviceseta.org.za
North West (Klerksdorp) Contact: Roelof Van Rooyen Phone: 087 283 2782 Email: RoelofVR@serviceseta.org.za Address: 74 Boom Street, Klerksdorp
Western Cape (Cape Town) Phone: 087 283 2803 Address: 4 Prestwich Street, Cape Town, 8000
Services SETA main contact page: serviceseta.org.za/contact-us
Always ask for the response in writing by email so you have a document to attach directly to your SRD appeal. If you contact the SETA by phone, request a reference number and ask them to follow up in writing.
Fast Checks and Fixes Before You Appeal
Confirm the exact month showing seta_intern on your SRD status portal. Write down the month before doing anything else.
Check your bank statement for the assessed month. Look for any stipend deposits from a SETA, training provider, or programme administrator. Note the date of the last stipend payment you received. If a stipend was paid during the assessed month, the decline is correct for that period.
Check your programme documentation. What was your official programme end date? Does it fall before or during the assessed month? If it falls before the assessed month, the record should not have been active during that period.
If your programme ended before the assessed month but you are still being declined, the record has not yet been updated in the SETA database. Contact your SETA or training provider using the template above and request written confirmation that your programme ended before the assessed month and that no stipend was paid during it.
If you were registered but received no stipend during the assessed month, your confirmation letter must specifically state “stipend paid: R0 for [Month Year]” and your bank statement should show no stipend deposit for that period.
If you have never been on a SETA programme, contact your training provider or SETA to investigate whether your ID is incorrectly linked to another learner’s record.
Portal Appeal Option for This Status: not_seta_intern
Select not_seta_intern on the SRD appeals portal only when your evidence clearly shows that the SETA programme record does not apply to you for the assessed month, or that you were registered but received no stipend during that period.
Evidence Checklist for not_seta_intern
All evidence must be specific to the assessed month. Generic confirmation that your programme has ended is unlikely to be sufficient without clear dates and stipend information.
Official letter from your SETA or training provider confirming your programme start date, end date, and stipend status for the assessed month. This is your most important document. The letter must reference the specific assessed month and state clearly whether any stipend was paid during that period.
Bank statement for the assessed month showing no stipend deposit during that period. A full month statement is more persuasive than a partial screenshot. Highlight or note the relevant transactions so the reviewer can verify quickly.
Your programme contract or acceptance letter if you need to demonstrate what your official end date was and to identify the correct SETA for follow-up.
Certified copy of your South African ID document for written appeal submissions.
Portal screenshot showing the exact month and seta_intern wording.
Written explanation of one paragraph stating why the programme record does not apply to the assessed month, whether the programme had ended or no stipend was paid, and what your evidence shows.
Avoid submitting a general affidavit stating you are unemployed. This does not directly address a programme database match and is unlikely to be accepted as sufficient evidence on its own.
How To Submit Your SRD Appeal: not_seta_intern
Go to the official SRD appeals portal.
Enter your ID number and the phone number registered to your SRD application. Request the OTP and enter it to verify your identity. Select the specific month you are appealing. Each declined month must be appealed separately even if the reason is the same. Select not_seta_intern as your appeal reason. Upload your supporting documents with dates clearly visible. Accept the declaration and submit. You will receive an SMS confirming your appeal has been received.
Written Appeal for Cases Older Than 90 Days
If the 90-day online window has passed, the appeals portal will block the month you want to appeal. You can still submit a written appeal.
Download the official SASSA appeal form from sassa.gov.za. Complete the form for the specific declined month. Attach certified copies of your supporting documents with dates clearly visible. Submit in person at your nearest SASSA office or send by registered post to your provincial SASSA office. Keep your proof of submission. Include a covering letter explaining which month you are appealing, why the SETA record does not apply to you for that month, and why the online deadline was missed.
Written appeals are reviewed by the same ITSAA process and carry the same weight as online submissions.
If Your SRD Appeal Is Declined
If ITSAA declines your appeal the outcome for that specific month is final through the internal process.
Before accepting the outcome, check the following:
Confirm you appealed the correct declined month. Check whether your SETA confirmation letter referenced the specific assessed month or whether it used general wording. Check whether your bank statement covered the full assessed month with no stipend visible. If your letter did not name the assessed month specifically, or your bank statement was for the wrong period, this is likely why the appeal failed.
If you still disagree after the final internal decision:
Judicial review through the High Court. You have 180 days from the final ITSAA decision to apply for judicial review under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA). This is a formal legal process and requires legal assistance to pursue effectively.
Free legal assistance. Legal Aid South Africa and Black Sash both provide free advice to grant applicants. Contact either organisation to understand whether your case has merit before deciding on a court process.
Correcting the record at source. If the programme record is incorrect or was not updated after your programme ended, follow up with your SETA or training provider to ensure the record is corrected in their database. Once corrected, later months should assess without this decline. This does not change the outcome for the already-declined month but prevents the problem from recurring.
Tips and Scam Awareness for SETA Intern Declines
Practical Tips That Improve Outcomes
Ask for the right letter from the start. A letter that states your programme name, your ID number, your start and end dates, and whether a stipend was paid during the assessed month gives ITSAA everything they need to review your case. Ask explicitly for each of these elements when making your request.
Make month-matching obvious in your submission. Highlight the relevant month on your bank statement with a note. Make sure the dates on your SETA letter clearly show the programme ended before the assessed month. Reviewers process many appeals and clear presentation speeds up the process.
Do not rely on a general unemployment affidavit. An affidavit stating you are currently unemployed does not directly refute a specific programme database match. ITSAA needs documentation that speaks specifically to the SETA record and the assessed month.
If your programme ended recently, expect some administration lag before the record updates across systems. Month-specific confirmation from your SETA is more useful than waiting for the database to catch up before appealing.
Recheck later months. Once your record is corrected at SETA level, later monthly SRD assessments should no longer be affected. You do not need to appeal each future month once the underlying record is fixed.
Scam and Fraud Red Flags
Pay-to-remove scams. Do not pay anyone claiming they can remove a SETA or learnership record from a government database. No private person or service has access to SETA or SASSA databases. This is a scam.
Fake programme letters. Do not purchase or use backdated or forged programme letters or completion certificates. ITSAA reviewers are experienced at identifying fraudulent documentation. Submitting a fake document is a criminal offence and will result in a permanent ban from the SRD grant.
OTP and PIN theft. Scammers may contact you claiming to be SETA or SASSA representatives and ask for your SRD PIN or OTP to verify your identity. Never share these with anyone.
Unofficial portals. Use only srd.sassa.gov.za for your appeal. Any other website claiming to process SRD appeals or remove learnership records is unofficial.
SRD appeals are completely free.
Summary: What To Do If You Are Declined for SETA Intern
- Confirm the exact month showing seta_intern on your SRD status portal.
- Check your bank statement for the assessed month to confirm whether any stipend was paid during that period.
- Check your programme documentation to confirm your official start and end dates.
- Contact your SETA or training provider using the email template above and request written confirmation of your programme status and stipend for the assessed month.
- Gather your supporting documents with dates clearly visible and specific to the assessed month.
- Submit your appeal at the SRD appeals portal selecting not_seta_intern within 90 days.
- If beyond 90 days, submit a written appeal with your documents at your nearest SASSA office.
- If your appeal is declined and you believe the decision is wrong, contact Legal Aid South Africa or Black Sash for free advice.
SETA Intern FAQs
I finished my learnership months ago. Why is my SRD still being declined? Programme completion records can take weeks or months to update in the SETA database. A dated letter from your SETA or training provider confirming your end date and confirming no stipend was paid during the assessed month is the clearest way to resolve this. Once the record is corrected, later months should assess without this decline.
Do SETA stipends count as income for SRD? Yes. A stipend paid through a SETA programme is treated as income for SRD eligibility purposes. If your stipend during the assessed month exceeded the R624 monthly threshold, you do not qualify for SRD for that period. If your stipend was zero or your programme had ended, you may still qualify and should appeal with evidence specific to that month.
I was registered on the learnership but received no stipend for the assessed month. Can I still appeal? Yes. If you were registered but your stipend was zero for the assessed month, you may have grounds to appeal. Your evidence must clearly show that the stipend was R0 for that specific month. Ask your SETA or training provider to state “stipend paid: R0 for [Month Year]” in their written confirmation and pair this with your bank statement showing no stipend deposit for that month.
What if my ID is linked to someone else’s programme record? Contact your SETA or training provider and ask them to investigate whether any programme record is linked to your ID. If they confirm no record should exist on your ID, obtain written confirmation and include it in your appeal along with a dispute statement and your certified ID document.
My training provider has closed down. How do I get confirmation? Contact the SETA that accredited the programme directly, not the training provider. The SETA holds the learner registration records independently of the training provider. Use the Services SETA contacts above if your programme was under Services SETA, or find the relevant SETA contact at qcto.org.za for other sectors.
Can I appeal multiple months declined for the same reason? Yes, but each month must be appealed separately. If your programme ended at a fixed point, one letter from your SETA showing your end date and stipend status can be used to support appeals for multiple months, but you must submit a separate appeal for each declined month on the portal.
Can later months be approved after my record is corrected? Yes. SRD is assessed monthly. Once your programme record is correctly updated in the SETA database, future months should assess without this decline. You do not need to separately appeal each future month once the underlying record is fixed.
How do I find out which SETA my programme falls under? Check your learnership or internship contract, your acceptance letter, or any correspondence from your training provider. The SETA name is usually stated in the programme documentation. If you are still unsure, contact your training provider directly and ask which SETA accredited the programme.
Official References
- SRD status portal
- SRD appeals portal
- SRD appeals guidance
- SASSA website
- SASSA helpline: 0800 60 10 11 (free, Monday to Friday)
- SASSA WhatsApp: 082 046 8553
- Services SETA contact page
- QCTO — find your SETA
- Legal Aid South Africa
- Black Sash
Information on this page is sourced from official SASSA announcements and verified against www.sassa.gov.za. For official queries contact SASSA directly at www.sassa.gov.za or call 0800 60 10 11.
