By Akani Nkuna
The Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) has recorded a 12% increase in revenue, according to administrator Lehlogonolo Masoga.
The entity was placed under administration following a period of sustained challenges including allegations of malfeasance and gross misconduct.
Masoga was speaking at the Services SETA Annual General Meeting in Midrand on Wednesday.
SETA’s top ranking officials convened the meeting to report and reflect on the progress of the institution financially and its impact in upskilling the youth to acquire in-demand industry skills.
“Our revenue increased by 12% compared to the previous year (2023/4), with a total annual revenue received reported at R 2 087 billion. Our learner enrolment results increased from 16 891 in 2023/4 to 28 060 in the 2024/5 reporting period with an annual throughput rate of 80%,” he said.
Masoga said that findings by the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) for the 2024/25 financial year pointed to poor forward planning and leadership, inadequate efforts to clear legal balances, and improper processes in evaluating Discretionary Grants. As a result, the institution incurred “commitments” estimated at R3.4 billion in excess.
He said the unverifiable nature of these commitments limited funding for new projects and created audit complications, leading to delays in bursary payments due to repeated reporting and reconciliation processes, which undermined the SETA’s capacity to support students effectively.
However, Masoga stressed that measures had now been implemented to prevent a repeat of these failures in higher education institutions. These included strengthening research and innovation through strategic partnerships, and improving accountability to ensure the “prudent use of public funds”.
“Work is currently under way to enforce consequence management and accountability. These myriad challenges constituted the hotbed which supposedly contributed to the entity being put under administration in August 2025,” Masoga added.
“The Services SETAs is duty-bound to provide hope to many disadvantaged unemployed youth and workers yearning for access to quality education and training, and no unwarranted man-made blockages must be tolerated,” he said.
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