Latest news with #SETA
IOL News
an hour ago
- 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
Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Ramaphosa taking Higher Education Minister to task over her attitude in Parliament
CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa is taking Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane to task for how she engaged with Parliament's Higher Education portfolio committee last week. She's been ordered to provide him with an explanation for her conduct and full details regarding the appointment of chairpersons for Sector Education and Training bodies (SETA). Nkabane's exchanges with parliamentarians have gone viral on social media, with her demeanour towards the committee being viewed as combative and dismissive. 'What makes a person credible chair is exactly how it is defined when you Google. In the encyclopedia, you will see what it means. Exactly that." This was Nkabane eating while responding to a question from the chairperson of the Higher Education committee, Tebogo Letsie, last week. ALSO READ: Nkabane defends decision to appoint politically connected people to chair SETA boards NKabane told Parliament the appointments had been retracted due to public outcry, and not because the process was questionable. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the social media commentary on that appearance, in which the South African public has labelled Nkabane as rude and arrogant, has not gone unnoticed by the president. "The president has requested the minister provide him with a detailed report on the decorum and substance of her engagement with parliament." Magwenya says the president also expects to be apprised of the appointment process of SETA chairpersons. He says the report is being requested of Nkabane in view of the expectation that ministers conduct themselves professionally, transparently and cordially when accounting to Parliament. 'The president expects the minister to establish a constructive relationship with the portfolio committee as she exercises her leadership and accountability,' added Magwenya.
IOL News
7 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
EFF MP Sihle Lonzi grills Nkabane over secret SETA panel, ‘Is it your boyfriend?'
EFF MP Sihle Lonzi questions the legitimacy of the panel that recommended SETA board appointments during a tense committee briefing last week on Friday Image: Independent Newspapers Archives EFF MP Sihle Lonzi has questioned Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane who recommended the withdrawn Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) chairs, suggesting it could include 'her boyfriend or family members.' The matter was brought before the Committee of Higher Education and Training on Friday where Nkabane faced sharp criticism from opposition MP's. Nkabane repeatedly refused to disclose the names of members of the panel that recommended the now-withdrawn chairpersons of the SETAs. This comes after Nkabane faced backlash over leaked appointments to SETA boards, which included several ANC-linked individuals, among them, former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Buyambo Mantashe, son of ANC national chairperson and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe. Nkabane appeared before the committee last week on Friday after she rescinded the appointments in response to the public outcry. Despite that, she insisted the process adhered to legal and governance standards. 'The integrity of the process was beyond scrutiny and reproach,' Nkabane said. She told the Committee forHigher Education and Training on Friday that the panel had operated under the guidance of the King IV Report on Corporate Governance. Nkabane said a dedicated structure to oversee nominations was recommended by the Auditor-General in 2020. 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 ✕ According to her, the department received 573 nominations, of which only 20 were recommended by an independent panel. Nkabane emphasised that the panel members were reputable individuals who volunteered their services and did not act on behalf of the ministry. 'They don't claim to execute this responsibility on behalf of the minister,' she said. However, when Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Letta Maseko asked her to name the panelists, Nkabane declined. 'There is no need for me to come and declare my volunteers, the people who assisted me voluntarily to execute my responsibilities,' she said. 'If something wrong happened, then hold accountable the person empowered by legislation, the minister, not them.' Asked again, Nkabane said, 'I can't share the names. Whatever comes, the responsibility lies with the minister. I am not going to drag them...' Umkhonto weSizwe Party MP Mnqobi Msezane said the panel's identity was a matter of public interest and accused the department of appointing 'ghost people.' Meanwhile, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Lonzi said he did not accept the minister's claim that the process was above board. 'We want to know who those people are,' Lonzi said, as he questioned the legitimacy of decisions made by the unknown group. 'Who are the profiles of this independent panel that you take so seriously, who told you who to put in the SETAs, NSFAS board, and university councils? Who are your advisers? Is it your mother? Is it your sister? Is it your friend? Is it your boyfriend? Is it your girlfriend?'
IOL News
30-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Nkabane's controversial refusal to disclose SETA panel members
Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane told the Higher Education Portfolio Committee that she could declare her volunteers who served on the panel that selected and made recommendations on the chairpersons of SETA boards that have since been withdrawn. Image: X Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane repeatedly refused to disclose the names of members of the panel that selected and recommended the now-withdrawn chairpersons of the Sector and Education Training Authorities (SETA). This happened as top department officials, including Director-General Nkosinathi Sishi, told the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education that they did not know the people serving on the panel. Nkabane was appearing before the portfolio committee after she withdrew the appointments of chairpersons for the SETA boards following public outrage after the list of the appointments was leaked. The appointments had included ANC-aligned people that included former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Buyambo Mantashe, son of ANC national chairperson and Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe. 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 ✕ Briefing the committee on Friday, Nkabane maintained that they complied with the law when processing the appointments, having considered the criteria that candidates met. 'The integrity of the process was beyond scrutiny and reproach,' she said. Nkabane also said she had appointed the panel using the King 4 Report on Governance to ensure there was a dedicated committee to play oversight. 'This requirement of assigning a dedicated structure to evaluate the nominations was a recommendation by the Auditor-General on boards in 2020,' she said. The department had obtained 573 nominations, but only 20 were recommended for appointments by the independent panel. Nkabane told the committee that the panel consisted of very reputable and highly profiled individuals who would do the work voluntarily. 'They don't claim to execute this responsibility on behalf of the minister.' She further stated that the panel consisted of five or six people, a similar size to those that made recommendations for the board of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and university councils. Asked by DA MP Letta Maseko who the members of the panel were, Nkabane put her foot down. 'There is no need for me to come and declare my volunteers, the people who assisted me voluntarily to execute my responsibilities. I am not in a position. If something wrong you believe happened with the entire process, you shoot the person empowered by legislation to execute the responsibility,' she said. Pressed again by Maseko to name the panel, Nkabane said: 'I can't share the names. Whatever comes, the responsibility lies with the minister, not them. I am not to drag them.' Nkabane stood her ground when MK Party MP Mnqobi Msezane said it was of public interest that the panel be named, as well as the criteria used to appoint 'ghost people'. 'I still maintain that we want to know who those people are,' Msezane said. EFF MP Sihle Lonzi said they did not buy Nkabane's explanation that the initial process was beyond reproach. In response, Nkabane insisted that the process had no flaws. 'The process was run by a credible and reputable panel. They overlooked demographics,' she said. When Lonzi asked if Nkabane would disclose 'the secret panel', she referred to advisory councils. This prompted Lonzi to ask her to answer in yes or no whether she will disclose the names of the people on the panel who took very serious decisions on behalf of the Ministry and the department. 'The people of South Africa want to know where the decisions about higher education are made. Are you willing to tell us the people, yes or no?' asked Lonzi, before promising they would find the names of the panel members. In response, Nkabane said she was not in court. 'It is not compulsory for me to disclose the independent panel that is assisting the minister. I will find out from them if they are happy I disclose their names. I can't come here and disclose information. I need to comply with relevant legislation. I am not going to respond to yes or no,' she said. DA MP Karabo Khakhau said it was an act of shame for Nkabane to be arrogant and tell the committee it was none of its business who the people on the panel that advised her were. 'It is our business as people of this committee. It is the business of the people of South Africa to know,' Khakhau said. The department has restarted the nominations of the SETA boards' chairpersons, and nominations are open until June 12.
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Nkabane confident in new SETA appointments amid public scrutiny
Minister of Higher Education and Training Nobuhle Nkabane says the government gazette for SETA chairpersons' appointments affirms that all nominations for the relevant bodies will solely be judged on lawful merit-based criteria. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane is confident that the restarted process to appoint chairpersons of boards of directors of the Sector and Education Training Authorities (SETA) will not again attract an outcry from the public. Responding to questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Nkabane said she will stick to legislative imperatives and has instructed the panel, independent of handling the nominations and recommendations, to ensure that the list of recommended candidates is not bloated with politically exposed persons. 'When we reopened the process this time around, we are going to address the concerns that were raised. I don't envisage public outcry after this process is concluded because we anticipate concluding it within a short space of time. I just want to assure the House that there will be no public outcry,' she said. Nkabane made the statement during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly in connection with the withdrawal of the appointments of SETA chairpersons earlier this month after she received backlash from civil society and political parties for appointing several ANC-aligned individuals. 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 ✕ Ad Loading Among the controversial appointees were former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Buyambo Mantashe, son of ANC national chairperson and Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe. The minister said the Constitution guaranteed fundamental freedoms such as the right to choose freely one's trade, occupation, profession, equality before the law, political rights, and freedom of association. 'These principles ensure no individual is denied opportunities based on political affiliation or association,' she said. Nkabane added that the Skills Development Act contained no provision excluding or favouring candidates based on their political beliefs. 'The government gazette of 22 May 2025 affirms that all nominations for the relevant bodies will be solely judged on lawful merit-based criteria.' She defended the now-cancelled appointments, saying the recommended candidates were academically qualified. 'We decided to recalibrate the process, not because there was something wrong with the process that was conducted by the independent panel. It is only because we are responding to the outcry of society hence we are a responsive government, as the ANC. 'We felt it was very important for us to be responsive and listen to the citizens when they cry to say they feel the calibre of the candidates is more politically heavy. So we had to respond, not that there is any legislation we contravened,' Nkabane said. She was adamant that the now-cancelled appointments were beyond reproach and that candidates had met the criteria for appointment. 'They have a role to play in society. They raised their hands to say they wanted to serve so that they could turn around the post-school and education sector. We have a responsibility as a government to respond to the cries.' EFF MP Sihle Lonzi said the withdrawal of the appointment effectively meant there was a flaw in the process. And that there were people who were not supposed to be chairpersons of the boards. 'If there was no problem in the process, you were not going to withdraw those names. You withdrew the names because the people of South Africa don't want Gwede Mantashe's son and ANC comrades there,' Lonzi said. In response, Nkabane said there was no flaw in the process followed, and they were merely responding to the public outcry. 'We are not to deviate from the legislation that empowers the minister on processes that must be followed in appointing accounting authorities. 'We are still to follow the Constitution, Skills Development Act, and the guide on the criteria that must be followed. Because our people cried that, indeed, it is politically bloated with candidates that were recommended, this time around, among the criteria I will add personally, is to say to the independent panel to please make sure it is balanced in demographics and that that we don't see bloated politically associated candidates in that list. 'However, we need to take into consideration that the Constitution does not preclude those who are politically affiliated,' Nkabane said.
