Plumbing Bursaries in South Africa

Keagan HendricksWritten by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)
Naledi KhumaloReviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Plumbing is a construction trade with a compliance layer on top of it. Installing the pipework is the trade. Certifying that the installation meets the standard is what a registered plumber does, and it is the part that carries the liability and the fee.

PIRB registration

The Plumbing Industry Registration Board is the professional body for plumbers in South Africa. Plumbers registered with it issue plumbing certificates of compliance, which is what an insurer, a bank or a municipality will ask for on a completed installation.

The PIRB gave notice in October 2025 that paper certificates of compliance are being phased out, so the certificates are moving to an electronic system with an online verification tool. If you are starting out now, expect to work on the electronic system from the beginning. Confirmed 23 September 2026; the PIRB is on 012 654 8245 or mail@pirb.co.za.

Where the trade sits

Plumbing falls under CETA, the construction SETA, which funds skills programmes and learnerships and runs a learner portal you can register on directly as well as an employer portal. CETA also runs the Thapelo Madibeng bursary. Its offices are at 52 14th Road, Noordwyk, Midrand.

On the municipal and utility side the EWSETA funds water and sanitation skills, which is a different employer base with more permanent posts.

The trade test route is on our artisan bursaries page.

Bursaries that fund plumbing

Municipal schemes fund trades for residents: City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands District Municipality, Ndwedwe Local Municipality. Municipalities are worth applying to twice over in this trade, because they also employ plumbers directly.

See also our construction bursaries and bricklaying bursaries pages.

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