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By Thebe Mabanga
Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela is set to appoint the boards of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) this week, with board chairpersons set to be installed during October.
Manamela confirmed this with Inside Education on the sidelines of the Mandela Sobukwe Leadership Camp, held at the University of Johannesburg Island at the Vaal last week.
“We are finalising the appointment of the Accounting Authorities, those are going through vetting, upon conclusion of the vetting they will be informed and those for whom vetting has been concluded can begin their work,” Manamela said, adding that the process will begin as early as this week.
The process of appointing SETA board chairs was derailed and ultimately accounted for Manamela’s predecessor, Nobuhle Nkabane, being removed from her post due to a public outcry over the process followed and the identity of some of the board chairs.
Manamela said that the process is now back on track.
“We can confirm that the Minister is appointing Accounting Authorities that have been vetted this week. The [Board] chairpersons will take longer, and the Ministry will communicate in due time,” said Matshepo Seedat, Manamela’s spokesperson.
Manamela acknowledged that there is a need to change the way SETAs are run. “I think there is national consensus that SETAS, the way in which they are structured, the way in which they are governed, and the way in which they provide services, requires some level of reform.”
He said that the conversation about that will have to be held within various parts of government as well as with stakeholders such as labour, industry and training institutions.
The five-year term of the previous boards expired in March this year. In May, the National Treasury gave Nkabane permission to allow CEOs to act as Accounting Authorities for a period of three months or until new boards are appointed. That three-month period expired at the end of August.
The incoming boards have a litany of challenges to address across the various SETAs. Three of the SETAS are under administration. Asked if more are likely to be taken this route, Manamela said “I don’t know”.
The first order of business for the boards is to appoint new CEOs or renew the contracts of incumbent CEOs as their five-year terms ended in September. Thereafter, the boards must instil a culture of excellence to improve performance.
SETAS such as the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) and The Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) have obtained clean audits and achieved 100% of their goals.
INSIDE EDUCATION
