By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela is set to revoke his appointment of administrators to three troubled Sector Education and Training Authorities (Seta).
Manamela has placed three Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) — the Construction Seta (Ceta), Services Seta (SSeta) and Local Government Seta (LGSeta) — under administration, citing governance failures, procurement irregularities, lapses in oversight and board instability.
He appointed Oupa Nkoane as Ceta administrator, Lehlogonolo Masoga as SSeta administrator and Zukile Mvalo as LGSeta administrator.
The goal, he said, was to reposition Setas so they can contribute effectively to the fight against unemployment, poverty and inequality.
However the appointment of the three has been met with stern criticism that three are implicated in corruption, mismanagement and fraud in their previous government jobs.
Nkoane was one of 12 officials named in a 2017/18 forensic report that revealed the loss of R872-million in “unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure” at the Emfuleni Local Municipality. At the time, Nkoana was the acting municipal manager of the municipality.
Masogo was implicated in a forensic report by forensic services company Morar for backdating a communications contract worth R4.4-million as the CEO of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone — this was seen to justify unjustified payments made to communications company, Mahuma Group.
Mvalo has been at the Department of Higher Education for years as a deputy director-general of skills development. All 21 Setas have been reporting directly to him for the past eight years, and has failed at stabilising Setas.
Fullview learnt that Advocate Mojanku Gumbi may be appointed for LGSETA, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC for CETA, and Professor Mary Metcalfe for the Services SETA.
Placing higher education entities under administration is a significant and regulated intervention aimed at addressing severe governance and operational failures. If an audit or any other information reveals serious financial mismanagement, corruption or a lack of proper accounting, the minister has the authority to step in.
Once the minister appoints an administrator, the administrator effectively takes over the powers, functions and duties of the institution’s council for a specific period, which is determined by the minister and can be extended.
Setas have been plagued by governance failures and corruption.
The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Tebogo Letsie, said the committee has not been furnished with the full details of why each Seta had been placed under administration.
“We will wait for the ministry to give us a full report on its decision before deciding if we will ask them to take us through their decision,” said Letsie.
Fullview attempted to get a comment from the department at the time of publishing this story but to no avail and it will be updated once received.