Investigation clears CETA of board manipulation accusation

The Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) is adamant that there has been no manipulation of board members.

This, it argued, is backed up by the Department of Higher Education and Training, which it said in a statement, undertook an investigation into the allegations of board manipulation at CETA and “found no evidence of such wrongdoing”.

Its statement followed articles that stated that there was corruption at the CETA. This comes after a Sunday Times article arguing that there was corruption and “rigging” of board appointments.

The Sunday Times piece was preceded by an IOL investigation, which was based on leaked paperwork that detailed alleged irregular disciplinary hearings, as well as allegations of financial misconduct.

Pages of letters from the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union to Nobuhle Nkabane, Minister of Higher Education, shared with IOL showed that CEO Malusi Shezi allegedly interfered in procurement processes as well as instigated disciplinary action against those who questioned him.

Late on Sunday, CETA issued a statement in which it said that there had been no board manipulation. “The allegations against the CETA officials are false and malicious. SETA Boards are appointed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training… with limited input for the SETAS or their CEOs,” it said.

It also said that each tender awarded is audited by external auditors who are registered with the Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors. “That is the highest level of assurance and conclusions about processes compliance with section 217 of the Constitution, the Section 51 of the PFMA and the related CETA policies; one can rely on in this regard,” it said.

However, the Minister has, herself, come under fire. In the first week of this month, Nkabane, publicly apologised for her behaviour in a Parliamentary Committee on Higher Education session held earlier this week after being lambasted by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In a post on X, she said that she had reflected and acknowledged “that the situation could have been handled differently”. This followed her meeting with the Committee to, in theory, explain why she appointed certain people as chairmen of 21 SETAs then withdrew those appointments.

MPs accused Nkabane of not providing a detailed explanation or being transparent over her withdrawal of the appointments, and said any process needed to ensure that it was not victim to state capture or be dominated by any one political party when it came to political allegiance of those chosen for the role.

She was also accused of not listening and telling Members of Parliament that, even though she withdrew appointments of chairmen, that process was not flawed. One member went as far as to say that no-one would believe her.

Ramaphosa indirectly said the Minister had called the process, and Parliament into ill repute.

Recently, CETA was given the go-ahead to proceed with disciplinary action against a senior employee who had claimed whistleblower protection. These developments come just days after the employee, identified as Tumi, appeared on a podcast with the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse during which she made allegations of corruption within CETA.

“From the time I assumed office in 2021, one of my key goals has been to eliminate corrupt practices and malfeasance and bring clean governance and administration at CETA. This ruling not only vindicates us but gives us confidence to proceed with action we believe will help clean up the rot and cancer plaguing the Sector Education Training Authorities,” Shezi said at the time of a Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration decision that Tumi had not made her disclosures “sincerely, honestly and in good faith and thus cannot be regarded as protected disclosures to be protected against occupational detriment”.

IOL