By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The appointment of the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) administrators has been met with stern criticism, amid the governance and financial failures.
This follows the announcement to place Ceta, the Services Seta and the Local Government Seta under administration.
SA’s 21 Setas were established by the 1998 Skills Act with the aim of providing workers with the skills required by the market. But many Setas are mired in allegations of corruption and mismanagement, and the sector as a whole is failing to reduce unemployment or alleviate the need to import artisan skills.
Minister of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Buti Manamela appointed Zukile Christopher Mvalo as the Local Government Seta administrator, with Dithabe Oupa Nkoane as the head of the Ceta and Lehlogonolo Alfred Masoga to take over at the Services Seta. Their tenures as administrators will last a year.
Manamela cited deep-rooted governance failures, including procurement irregularities, financial mismanagement, and board-level instability, as the primary reasons for the interventions.
These issues, he said, have severely compromised the SETAs’ ability to fulfil their core mandate, providing skills development and training to support South Africa’s labour market needs.
Manamela said the administrators have extensive experience in governance, economic development, including a strong legal background.
However the Democratic Alliance (DA) said, the appointees are “unfit, implicated in corruption, mismanagement, fraud” in previous government jobs or have not made an impact in the Seta space.
The party has written an urgent letter to Manamela demanding his reconsideration of these appointments, and withdrawal of his announcement.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member of Parliament (MP) Sihle Lonzi, said those close to Manamela should advise him that he is “starting on the wrong foot” by appointing people close to the ANC.
Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has requested a formal meeting with Manamela, saying South Africa could not afford another cycle of “failed interventions”.
The organisation pointed out that Manamela’s decision to place three of the Setas under administration was a sign of the extent of the corruption.
He noted that concerns also extended to the administrators themselves, pointing out that at least two of the administrators have been named in allegations of maladministration and corruption.
Masoga previously served as CEO of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone, Group Executive at the Limpopo Economic Development Agency, and Deputy Speaker of the Limpopo Legislature. Masoga also holds multiple postgraduate qualifications, including Master of Management in Governance and Public Leadership and is currently a PhD candidate in Public Affairs.
Nkoane held senior roles including Municipal Manager and Section 139 Administrator at Emfuleni Municipality, Acting City Manager of Tshwane, Head of City Planning in Ekurhuleni, and CEO of the Municipal Demarcation Board. Nkoane holds a Master’s in Town and Regional Planning, and also has extensive experience in financial recovery, organisational turnaround, and spatial development.
Mvalo has overseen all 22 SETAs, the NSA, and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) since 2013. Mvalo holds qualifications in law and public administration, including an LLM and a Master’s in Public Administration. He previously held senior executive roles in local government and corporate services.