VerifiedSouth Africa has 50 public TVET colleges, all established and funded under the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). They are not “registered” the way private colleges are: they are public institutions created under the Continuing Education and Training Act. Here is the full list by province.
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The 50 public TVET colleges
| Province | Colleges | Names (all end in “TVET College”) |
|---|---|---|
| Gauteng | 8 | Central Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni East, Ekurhuleni West, Sedibeng, South West Gauteng, Tshwane North, Tshwane South, Western |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 9 | Coastal, Elangeni, Esayidi, Majuba, Mnambithi, Mthashana, Thekwini, Umfolozi, Umgungundlovu |
| Eastern Cape | 8 | Buffalo City, Eastcape Midlands, Ikhala, Ingwe, King Hintsa, King Sabata Dalindyebo, Lovedale, Port Elizabeth |
| Limpopo | 7 | Capricorn, Lephalale, Letaba, Mopani South East, Sekhukhune, Vhembe, Waterberg |
| Western Cape | 6 | Boland, College of Cape Town, False Bay, Northlink, South Cape, West Coast |
| Free State | 4 | Flavius Mareka, Goldfields, Maluti, Motheo |
| Mpumalanga | 3 | Ehlanzeni, Gert Sibande, Nkangala |
| North West | 3 | Orbit, Taletso, Vuselela |
| Northern Cape | 2 | Northern Cape Rural, Northern Cape Urban |
Public colleges vs registered private colleges
| Public TVET college | Registered private college | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Established by government under DHET | Registered with DHET as a private college, or accredited by the QCTO |
| Funding | State-subsidised; NSFAS for eligible students | Student fees; no NSFAS |
| How to check | It appears in the list above | DHET’s register of private colleges, or the QCTO provider database |
Many private colleges use “TVET” or “FET” in their names. That does not make them public. If a college is not on the list above, it is private.
Using the list
- Each college runs its own applications and has several campuses.
- Find campus pages and links in our directory of all 50 public TVET colleges.
- NSFAS funds eligible students at every college on this list.
For private colleges, see how to check a private college and which colleges are DHET-registered.
Frequently asked questions
Is every TVET college in South Africa registered with DHET?
The 50 public TVET colleges are government institutions under DHET. Private colleges must be registered or accredited separately.
Which province has the most TVET colleges?
KwaZulu-Natal, with nine public TVET colleges.