Pretoria: Prospective students, who need guidance in accessing the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) system, are encouraged to make use of the Central Application Service (CAS).

According to South African Government News Agency, the Department of Higher and Training (DHET) had previously introduced the Central Applications Clearing House (CACH) as a short-term intervention to match unplaced applicants with available spaces. However, from the 2026 academic year, CACH will be discontinued as part of broader reforms to the PSET application process, while CAS is rolled out.

CAS is a pilot project implemented by DHET to provide services for aspiring learners who wish to undertake undergraduate studies at any PSET institution in South Africa. Its services include career information, career guidance and counselling referral, centralised application service, and application clearing service.

For those seeking further understanding of how CAS operates, a comprehensive guide is available at: https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_documents/CAS_Learner%20Guide.pdf.