Events Manager: Courses, Subjects & Salary in SA

Career summary

An events manager plans and runs events. These can be conferences, weddings, product launches, year-end functions, sports days, festivals or government ceremonies. You turn a client's idea into a plan, find the venue and suppliers, set the budget, and then make sure everything happens on the day, exactly as promised.

Most of the work happens weeks or months before the event. You answer enquiries, write quotes, sign contracts, book caterers, sound crews and décor, and build a detailed run sheet. On the day you are on your feet, solving problems, directing staff and looking after guests. Afterwards you pay suppliers and check what went well.

Start with a higher certificate, diploma or degree in event management, then work up from assistant or coordinator. We found no register for events managers, but the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act covers events at stadiums or venues certified for 2 000+ people, and races or processions along a route. The job suits organised people who stay calm under pressure and do not mind evenings, weekends and holidays.

A Day in the Life

This example day follows an events manager at a conference and function venue, two days before a big corporate dinner. Times are an example, built from real South African job adverts.

08:00
Check enquiries and quotes — Read new enquiries from companies and couples. Send quotes, follow up on ones you sent last week, and update the bookings diary. Selling events is part of the job at many venues.
09:30
Supplier calls — Confirm the caterer's menu numbers, the sound and lighting crew's arrival time and the décor delivery. One supplier is late with a quote, so you chase them.
11:00
Site visit with a client — Walk a client through the venue for an event next month. Show them the rooms, talk about seating, parking and power, and note everything they ask for.
13:00
Budget and invoices — Check supplier invoices against quotes and the client's budget. Every extra cost must be agreed and recorded before you approve a payment.
14:30
Run sheet and safety plan — Finish the minute-by-minute run sheet for the dinner. Check the safety plan, emergency exits and who is responsible for what on the night.
16:00
Team briefing — Brief the events coordinator, the floor staff and the casual waiters. Everyone must know their job, their times and who to call when something goes wrong.
Event night — You arrive before the set-up crew and leave after the last guest. You fix problems quietly, look after the client and make sure the breakdown is done properly.

Choose this career if…

You stay calm when things go wrong
You are careful with detail
You are fine working nights, weekends and public holidays
You cope well when the plan changes
You are fine on your feet all day
You are happy to take charge
You are comfortable with numbers

Qualification

1year
Higher Certificate in Event Management
A one-year starting point for school-leavers, offered by a public university and several private colleges. It can lead into a diploma. Each institution registers its own SAQA ID.
SAQA ID 119196 · NQF 5 · 120 credits
Occupational Certificate: Conference and Events Organiser
A QCTO workplace-based route mixing study, practical skills and work experience, ending in a national external assessment. SAQA lists 30 December 2026 as the last date to enrol.
SAQA ID 102944 · NQF 5 · 277 credits
3years
Diploma in Event Management
The most common way in. Offered at universities of technology and private colleges, some with work-integrated learning. Many government events posts ask for this level. SAQA IDs differ by institution.
SAQA ID 63054 · NQF 6 · 360 credits
1year
Advanced Diploma in Event Management
A one-year course after the diploma. It reaches NQF 7. Entry needs an NQF 6 diploma or an event management degree.
Advanced Diploma · SAQA ID 102165 · NQF 7 · 120 credits
3years
Bachelor of Commerce in Event Management
A three-year degree for those aiming at senior management. Event management degrees are offered under different names. Check each one's maths rules.
SAQA ID 117897 · NQF 7 · 360 credits

The occupational certificate is being phased out

The Occupational Certificate: Conference and Events Organiser has passed its registration end date. SAQA lists 30 December 2026 as the last date to enrol and lists no qualification that replaces it. Ask a college whether it still offers the certificate before you sign up.

Salary

Then it grows

Chief Director: Protocol, Events and Ceremonial Services, The Presidency (Level 14, 2025)
R1 436 000
Needs a Bachelor's degree or Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in administration or management, and 5 years at Senior Management Service (SMS) level
Assistant Director: Events Management, Limpopo (Level 9), with 3 years' supervisory experience
R487 000
Needs a National Diploma (NQF 6) in a field such as events management or communications, and 3 years' supervisory experience at salary level 7 or 8
Senior Communications Officer: Branding and Events, GPAA (Level 8), with 3 years' experience
R413 000
Needs a 3-year diploma or degree in communication, public relations, event or brand management, and 3 years' relevant experience
Event Coordinator, Durban ICC (TG 10 minimum, 2024), with 3-4 years' experience
R286 000
Needs a National Diploma in Event Management or Marketing, or a relevant NQF 6 qualification, and 3-4 years' experience

These are not starting salaries

Every salary on this page is for a post that asked for at least three years' work experience. We found no published starting salary for events work.

DPSA Public Service Vacancy Circular (2025), Annexure G (The Presidency), post 08/24, as at March 2025 — total package.
Limpopo provincial government e-recruitment advert DSAC2026/16, Assistant Director: Events Management, as at April 2026 — as advertised by employers.
DPSA Public Service Vacancy Circular (2026), Annexure G (GPAA), post 21/97, as at April 2026 — as advertised by employers.
Durban ICC advert, Event Coordinator (23 April 2024), as at April 2024 — as advertised by employers.

Matric Requirements

Pass type you need

Higher Certificate in Event Management: National Senior Certificate at Higher Certificate level
Occupational Certificate: Conference and Events Organiser: National Senior Certificate pass
Diploma in Event Management: National Senior Certificate at Diploma level
Advanced Diploma in Event Management: National Senior Certificate at Diploma level
Bachelor of Commerce in Event Management: National Senior Certificate with a Bachelor’s degree pass

Mathematics or Maths Literacy?

Worth knowingGrade 10 and 11 · still reversible

Taking Maths Literacy? Aim for good marks, because each university and college sets its own minimum. Take Business Studies, Tourism or Hospitality Studies if your school offers them. Work on your English marks. Ask to help at school functions or a family business event to start building experience.

✓ You take Mathematics

Every event management course on this page stays open to you.
Costing events, building budgets and checking invoices come more easily.

! You take Mathematical Literacy

None of the SAQA records we checked for event management diplomas, advanced diplomas and degrees asks for Mathematics. One diploma record assumes Maths Literacy at NQF Level 4.
At one public university, the Higher Certificate in Event Management asks for Maths Level 2 or Maths Literacy Level 4, and a higher points score if you take Maths Literacy.
Entry rules differ by institution and can change, so check each prospectus before you apply.

Best School Subjects

Essential

English · Courses set an English minimum, and you write quotes, contracts and emails every day.

Strongly recommended

Business Studies · Helps with budgets, marketing and running an events business.
Tourism · Covers the tourism and events sector, customer care and marketing.
Hospitality Studies · Covers food, service and function planning, which events managers use daily.

Also useful

Mathematics · Not required by the courses we checked, but helps with budgets and costing.
Computer Applications Technology · Some courses list computer skills as an advantage; you work in spreadsheets daily.

Practical Requirements

Work experience modules in the Occupational Certificate: Conference and Events Organiser (73 credits)Work-integrated learning
Enrolling in the Occupational Certificate: Conference and Events Organiser. You must complete the work experience modules. No professional registration is involved. This qualification has three compulsory parts: knowledge, practical skills and work experience. The work experience modules are worth 73 credits and include planning and coordinating processes for at least two conferences or events. You finish with an external assessment run through the quality council.
Work-integrated learning in the Diploma in Event Management (at least 900 hours at one private institution; can differ by qualification)Internship
Enrolling in a Diploma in Event Management that includes work-integrated learning. You must complete it to graduate. No professional registration is involved. Event management diplomas can include work-integrated learning, where you work at a company or organisation and are assessed. At one private institution you need at least 300 hours in second year and 600 hours in third year, at a suitable company or organisation you choose, and if you struggle to find one, staff help you. You are only certified once it is done. This is a rule of the qualification, not a law. The hours can differ between qualifications.

Alternative careers

Related careers. Each has its own entry requirements — check every one separately.

Sound Engineer
Registers with SACIA
Works the sound and technical side that events managers hire in.
Travel Agent
Books trips for clients; incentive travel companies also run group events.

Career Ladder

Events intern or events assistant · Matric · NQF 4
Events coordinator · Diploma in Event Management plus several years' experience · NQF 6
Events manager · Diploma or degree plus several years' experience · NQF 6
Senior events manager or head of events · A degree or diploma plus many years' experience · NQF 6
Chief director of protocol and events (government) · An NQF 7 degree or advanced diploma in administration or management, plus 5 years at senior management (SMS) level · NQF 7

Last reviewed October 2026. We work hard to keep this information accurate, but details can change — always verify before making a career decision. Tell us something is out of date.