This article analyses the progress made in transforming the public further education and training college system in South Africa in the first decade of democracy. It charts the evolution of policy for the sector and how it relates to broader policy development in South Africa. It examines the extent to which policy has been implemented and highlights a series of remaining challenges for the sector. The article concludes that much has been done in transforming the college sector, most notably through the creation of 50 non-racialised, multi-site colleges. However, it also notes that many of the reforms envisaged by the Department of Education remain only partially implemented. Most crucially, and inevitably, the sector continues to struggle with the challenge of developing skills in a context of extremely high youth unemployment. (Contains 1 note.)