Higher Education programme receives unqualified audit; Minister Manamela hails strong financial controls

Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has announced that the university education programme, which constitutes 80% of the department's budget, received an unqualified audit, a clear sign of strong financial controls.

Manamela made the remarks at a media briefing on Saturday, which followed the tabling of the department’s 2024/25 Annual Report in Parliament earlier this week.

The Minister noted that the report signifies the close of the financial year and the end of the sixth administration.

READ: Higher Education must deliver measurable results, says Minister

Addressing the performance of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), Manamela highlighted that 39% of the institutions received unqualified audits without findings, while an additional 25% received unqualified audits with findings.

“93% of SETAs submitted financial statements timely,” Manamela stated. He added, “It was important from the report of the Auditor General that some of the SETAs whom we have taken action against, there is a few in the recent month found themselves dominating the report of the Auditor General of South Africa.”