The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has urged newly appointed Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela to urgently address allegations of widespread tender irregularities and mismanagement within South Africa’s Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).
Speaking to VOC News, OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage emphasised the need for immediate action, saying rampant corruption in the sector has been ignored for far too long.
“There’s a lack of political will to act decisively,” Duvenage stated.
“This network of corruption has infiltrated the Higher Education Department, NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme), and many of the SETAs. We exposed these issues back in 2017 and 2018, but despite mounting evidence, little has been done.”
SETAs receive approximately R20 billion annually, with an additional R5 billion from the National Skills Fund. Duvenage pointed out that although NSFAS CEO Andile Nongogo was dismissed, other implicated CEOs still hold their positions, and many SETA boards have yet to be properly constituted.
“The leadership in the higher education sector is abysmal. The boards should have been in place since March, but the delay allows corruption to continue unchecked.”
Reports commissioned by the Department of Higher Education, such as a 2019 investigation by Kubota Forensic and a 2020 audit by Duja Consulting (which cost R19 million), flagged serious irregularities, including tender manipulation and employee victimisation. However, these reports were never made public, and their findings were seemingly ignored.
Duvenage criticised the pattern of commissioning expensive reports only to bury their findings.
“The reports spelt out the corruption. Instead of acting on them, they were shelved. This has become a common theme in government where evidence of corruption is ignored, and no accountability follows.”
OUTA has called on Minister Manamela to urgently address these issues, engage with stakeholders, and ensure those responsible face consequences.
“We’re demanding action. This is taxpayers’ money being wasted, and it’s outrageous that it’s allowed to continue,” Duvenage added.
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
Photo: Pixabay
