The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has advised individuals who wish to study at a university or college to sign up on the Central Applications Clearing House (CACH) system.
CACH is a system used in South Africa to assist prospective students who have applied to universities and other tertiary institutions but have not been accepted due to various reasons. CACH provides these students with a second chance to secure a place in a tertiary institution.
The CACH system provides information to users about which institutions are offering academic programmes that match their study preferences.
All individuals who completed Grade 12 from the year 2000 are eligible to use the CACH system.
The CACH system is free to use. Prospective students can sign up by registering and capturing their details, including the field of study and programme of choice on the CACH website.
Since the CACH system opened, many prospective students registered on the portal but remain unsure about how to check their CACH status.
The DHET said individuals can check their CACH status by logging onto the CACH web portal using their credentials. This can be done at any time.
Public Universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAs) use the CACH system to search for individuals that meet the criteria to fill the spaces available in academic programmes at their institutions.
The system will send an SMS or email to individuals making an offer for prospective students to accept or reject the offer to study at an institution. If the offer has been accepted by the system user, they will be contacted by the institution.
The system operates during specific times of the year and is designed to provide assistance to students who have met the minimum admission requirements but have not been offered a place at any institution. The CACH system is meant to help these students find suitable institutions that still have openings and match their qualifications.
CACH is an excellent resource for students who want to further their education but have not been successful in securing a place at a tertiary institution.
Individuals with enquiries related to the CACH system are advised to call 0860 690 722. This service is available Mondays to Fridays between 8 AM and 4 PM. This service is not available on public holidays.
Individuals who are unsure about what career path to follow are encouraged to access careers advice and information through the DHET’s Khetha Career Development Service.
