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The Citizen
02-08-2025
- The Citizen
‘The public deserves better': Outa and Ceta trade barbs after protest
Outa was protesting the 'rot' in Setas, but Ceta accused it of waging a smear campaign The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) on Saturday traded barbs over a protest earlier in the week. Outa protested outside the Ceta head office in Midrand on Thursday to highlight what it called the 'rot' in South Africa's sector education and training authorities (Setas). It said Setas are plagued by deep-rooted maladministration and governance failures, while costing taxpayers around R21 billion annually. Outa protest outside Ceta office However, Ceta on Saturday criticised the protest by Outa, saying it was 'unauthorised' and 'disruptive'. 'The gathering, which occurred without proper notification and approval by the metro… interfered with Ceta's operations and created an unsafe environment for staff arriving at work, including attempts to block employees from entering the premises,' it said. Ceta added that it called law enforcement to check on the protest, after which Outa 'vacated the premises'. It also said Outa's protest was part of a 'bigger smear campaign' against Setas. OUTA is outside the @CETASkillsDev offices this morning, spotlighting the rot in the #SETA's. Billions in public funds are at risk, while forensic reports & #whistleblower evidence are ignored. Transparency is non-negotiable. Yesterday we released our full #CETA report. Today,… — OUTA (@OUTASA) July 31, 2025 Outa, however, responded on Saturday by saying the protest wasn't unlawful. 'Outa's peaceful picket involved fewer than 15 people – which, under the Regulation of Gatherings Act, doesn't require prior notice. Another poor attempt to use public resources to dodge accountability,' it said. 'The Duja report exposed it all and Ceta did nothing. That silence cost the public R18 million. We protest because the public deserves better.' ALSO READ: Higher education minster accused of covering up tender irregularities at Ceta The Duja report was commissioned after a whistleblower made allegations of corruption against the training authority. The findings of the report included that R738 million in discretionary grants were awarded without oversight, executives were paid excessive salaries, and non-compliant training providers were given accreditation. Ceta claims it is cleaning up Ceta, however, said it is strengthening its 'administration and governance'. 'Efforts to frame these internal clean-up processes as a targeting of individuals or whistleblowers are misleading and serve only to distract from the critical work the organisation is mandated to do. 'The Ceta remains fully committed to transparency, institutional integrity and strengthening good governance in its skills development landscape. 'Attempts to derail these efforts through unsubstantiated claims or unlawful public campaigns will not deter nor detract Ceta from fulfilling its mandate.' ALSO READ: Outa urges probe into R56 million Polokwane tender scandal Outa wants meeting with Manamela Ahead of the protest outside of Ceta's office, Outa asked for a meeting with the newly-appointed Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela. 'It would appear that South Africa's Seta model is failing and its institutions are bleeding taxpayer money, while the youth they are supposed to serve are left stranded. 'We're dealing with recycled leadership, dodgy tenders, and investigations that are hidden or ignored. That's not oversight, that's a cover-up,' said Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage. Outa said its investigations into Setas, which fall under the higher education and training sector, 'found similar patterns: manipulated procurement; over-priced contracts; failed delivery of services; the movement between entities of key individuals linked to dubious procurement; investigations that go nowhere; and a frightening lack of accountability'. 'All of these entities fall under the Ministry of Higher Education and Training, which has now had three different ministers in the past 14 months.' READ NEXT: Outa concerned about new higher education minister
IOL News
09-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
CETA insider exposes corruption as Minister was dealt Presidential rebuke
A whistleblower at the Construction Education and Training Authority Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) has blown the lid on corruption in the supply chain at the authority. Image: Pixabay A whistleblower at the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) has blown the lid on corruption in the supply chain at the authority. In an interview with Wayne Duvenage, CEO of civil action organisation, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, procurement professional Tumi details her efforts to combat irregularities, including the manipulation of tenders and the appointment of non-compliant service providers. 'I thought it was about time that I break my silence. I've been quiet for quite some time and enduring this abuse,' said Tumi. She said, when she joined the SETA in March 2012, it was under administration. Tumi discussed how she was deliberate in adhering to compliance with supply chain management best practices yet was repeatedly suspended and victimised. Tumi highlighted what she believes are systemic issues within CETA, alleging that corrupt practices persisted. A Duja Forensic Report into CETA's affairs was conducted around about the time that the authority was under administration, which was in February 2020 for an initial period of 12 months – was subsequently extended to February 2022. A Higher Education and Training Parliamentary Committee meeting, held in mid-May, was briefed on the outcomes of the report, and members lambasted the department for failing to action the findings of the probe for more than a year. During the briefing from CETA and the Department of Higher Education and Training, members 'were alarmed' by findings in the report. It found, among other things, that there was R738 million in discretionary grants awarded without accounting authority oversight, excessive salaries paid to executives, and the accreditation of non-compliant training providers. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The Duja Report, which was commissioned at a cost of R18.9 million, revealed serious breaches in financial management, including that payroll costs had tripled over a three-year period due to unjustified salary structure adjustments and performance bonuses awarded without objective performance criteria. Transactions involving property to the value of R43.7 million had to be reversed following departmental intervention. Tumi alleged that, around 2015 and 2016, she highlighted that there were irregularities in procurement, which resulted in her being sent on gardening leave. 'I could have prevented it, but I was not allowed to play my role, and then we, the organisation, ended up being in trouble because certain things were not done properly,' she said. In 2021, she was again put on suspension for alleged wrongdoings and said that she was also asked to disqualify a bidder for no apparent reason. 'I told them, guys, are you kidding me? I told you, I advised you in that meeting, and I told you that there is no reason to disqualify this particular bidder, and you cannot find a reason that is not in line with the specification.' Following this, Tumi alleged that the entire supply management chain team was suspended. She also alleged that there were instances where the executive committee pushed tenders through without due process. Tumi called for urgent action from the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, and President Cyril Ramaphosa to address such abuse of power and protect whistleblowers. Nkabane on Friday had to issue a public apology for her behaviour in front of the same Parliamentary Committee last week after being lambasted by President Cyril Ramaphosa. She had met with the committee to, ostensibly, explain why she appointed certain people as chairmen of 21 SETAs and then subsequently withdrawn those appointments. The Minister faced accusations of lacking transparency in withdrawing the appointments, failing to provide a detailed explanation, and ensuring the process wasn't influenced by state capture or political dominance. Nkabane was also accused of ignoring Members of Parliament's concerns and insisting that the appointment withdrawal was not flawed. One member suggested no-one would believe her. Ramaphosa indirectly stated that the Minister had damaged the process and Parliament's reputation due to a viral video clip. He emphasised that all Ministers and senior officials must be conscious of their conduct during proceedings. IOL
IOL News
09-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
CETA corruption exposed: Whistleblower's claims lead to Minister's rebuke
A whistleblower at the Construction Education and Training Authority Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) has blown the lid on corruption in the supply chain at the authority. Image: Pixabay A whistleblower at the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) has blown the lid on corruption in the supply chain at the authority. In an interview with Wayne Duvenage, CEO of civil action organisation, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, procurement professional Tumi details her efforts to combat irregularities, including the manipulation of tenders and the appointment of non-compliant service providers. 'I thought it was about time that I break my silence. I've been quiet for quite some time and enduring this abuse,' said Tumi. She said, when she joined the SETA in March 2012, it was under administration. Tumi discussed how she was deliberate in adhering to compliance with supply chain management best practices yet was repeatedly suspended and victimised. Tumi highlighted what she believes are systemic issues within CETA, alleging that corrupt practices persisted. A Duja Forensic Report into CETA's affairs was conducted around about the time that the authority was under administration, which was in February 2020 for an initial period of 12 months – was subsequently extended to February 2022. A Higher Education and Training Parliamentary Committee meeting, held in mid-May, was briefed on the outcomes of the report, and members lambasted the department for failing to action the findings of the probe for more than a year. During the briefing from CETA and the Department of Higher Education and Training, members 'were alarmed' by findings in the report. It found, among other things, that there was R738 million in discretionary grants awarded without accounting authority oversight, excessive salaries paid to executives, and the accreditation of non-compliant training providers. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The Duja Report, which was commissioned at a cost of R18.9 million, revealed serious breaches in financial management, including that payroll costs had tripled over a three-year period due to unjustified salary structure adjustments and performance bonuses awarded without objective performance criteria. Transactions involving property to the value of R43.7 million had to be reversed following departmental intervention. Tumi alleged that, around 2015 and 2016, she highlighted that there were irregularities in procurement, which resulted in her being sent on gardening leave. 'I could have prevented it, but I was not allowed to play my role, and then we, the organisation, ended up being in trouble because certain things were not done properly,' she said. In 2021, she was again put on suspension for alleged wrongdoings and said that she was also asked to disqualify a bidder for no apparent reason. 'I told them, guys, are you kidding me? I told you, I advised you in that meeting, and I told you that there is no reason to disqualify this particular bidder, and you cannot find a reason that is not in line with the specification.' Following this, Tumi alleged that the entire supply management chain team was suspended. She also alleged that there were instances where the executive committee pushed tenders through without due process. Tumi called for urgent action from the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, and President Cyril Ramaphosa to address such abuse of power and protect whistleblowers. Nkabane on Friday had to issue a public apology for her behaviour in front of the same Parliamentary Committee last week after being lambasted by President Cyril Ramaphosa. She had met with the committee to, ostensibly, explain why she appointed certain people as chairmen of 21 SETAs and then subsequently withdrawn those appointments. The Minister faced accusations of lacking transparency in withdrawing the appointments, failing to provide a detailed explanation, and ensuring the process wasn't influenced by state capture or political dominance. Nkabane was also accused of ignoring Members of Parliament's concerns and insisting that the appointment withdrawal was not flawed. One member suggested no-one would believe her. Ramaphosa indirectly stated that the Minister had damaged the process and Parliament's reputation due to a viral video clip. He emphasised that all Ministers and senior officials must be conscious of their conduct during proceedings. IOL
