Parly committee wants Manamela to explain why he placed 3 SETAs under administration

JOHANNESBURG - Parliament’s portfolio committee on higher education has written to Minister Buti Manamela to explain his reasons behind placing three Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) under administration.

Manamela recently appointed administrators for the SETAs on construction, services and local government.

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He cited governance failures, procurement irregularities and lapses in oversight as part of his reasons.

But Manamela is now under pressure, with some opposition parties saying he did not follow the appropriate process and also appointed African National Congress (ANC)-linked people as administrators.

Higher education portfolio chairperson, Tebogo Letsie, said that 12 September had been provisionally set for the minister’s appearance before Parliament.

"There is a process that was supposed to have happened. We will find out, in our engagements with the ministry, what was that process and if it was processed properly and if not, what will be the consequence management because it can’t be business as usual. It’s not the first time this is happening. It’s as if now higher education and training is just about SETAs and being on the media for the wrong reasons."