By Johnathan Paoli
Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has moved to clarify the process surrounding his controversial appointment of administrators to three troubled Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), following growing concerns from Parliament and sector stakeholders.
The minister’s clarification, issued in a formal media statement on Friday night, sought to address these concerns directly.
“Our priority is to stabilise governance in these SETAs, protect public funds and strengthen confidence in the skills development system. By involving the Public Service Commission (PSC) in this process, we are adding an extra layer of integrity to ensure that the focus remains on delivering skills for South Africa’s youth and workers,” Manamela said.
Earlier this week, Manamela placed the Services SETA, the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) and the Local Government SETA under administration.
Acting in terms of Section 15(1) of the Skills Development Act, the minister dissolved appointed administrators to take over leadership functions, citing the need to restore governance and accountability in the bodies responsible for managing billions in public funds earmarked for skills training.
Since then, questions have mounted over whether the appointments were appropriate and whether the process followed the necessary standards of transparency and accountability.
Manamela emphasised that due process had been followed before confirming any of the appointments.
He detailed three critical steps in the vetting process: identifying candidates with the required qualifications and experience; conducting due diligence, including reviewing public allegations and controversies linked to candidates; and giving candidates the opportunity to respond to these issues directly.
The minister said that only after the department was satisfied that the appointees could carry out the mandate of stabilising the SETAs, were the appointments confirmed. This demonstrated that the process was not arbitrary and that scrutiny of the administrators’ past records had been factored into decision-making.
Acknowledging ongoing public scepticism, Manamela announced an additional safeguard. The PSC will now conduct independent fit-and-proper assessments and conflict of interest vetting of all three appointees.
The PSC is a constitutional body mandated to promote fair, professional and accountable public administration.
According to the minister, all three administrators have agreed to subject themselves to the PSC’s scrutiny and to accept the outcomes of the process.
Beyond the vetting process, Manamela also outlined immediate performance expectations for the new administrators.
Each of the three SETAs under administration has been directed to publish a 90-day stabilisation plan.
These plans must include clear, measurable indicators and will serve as roadmaps for restoring governance stability, addressing financial risks and ensuring accountability.
Importantly, these stabilisation plans will not be confined to internal reporting.
The minister has instructed that they be made available to Parliament, stakeholders and the public for monitoring.
This, he said, would allow for full transparency around progress and create an additional layer of oversight over how the SETAs were managed during the administration period.
Manamela framed these measures as part of a broader effort to restore confidence in the country’s skills development system.
The Democratic Alliance has welcomed Manamela’s decision to hand over his controversial appointments to the PSC for investigation, but insisted that Parliament must still urgently hold him accountable.
DA spokesperson Karabo Khakhau described Manamela’s referral of the issue to the PSC as “a huge admission of scandal”, adding that the DA would submit terms of reference to the PSC to ensure its investigation was not narrowly confined.
“Manamela has handed over his own appointees to the Public Service Commission as the public scrutiny has heightened and pressure on him is mounting. Manamela is making a huge admission of scandal, by bringing in the Public Service Commission,” Khakhau said.
The party is calling for the probe to include possible party-political links, cadre deployment practices and findings from past forensic reports into SETA mismanagement.
Over the years, the SETAs have been plagued by repeated scandals involving procurement irregularities, maladministration and wasteful expenditure.
The minister expressed his trust that these steps would address public concerns, reinforce oversight and ensure that SETAs were able to deliver effectively on their critical mandate.
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