Minister Nzimande’s inaction deepens crisis at CETA

8 July 2015

The DA will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, Yvonne Phosa, to request that she summon the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Blade Nzimande, to account to the Committee on why he has not taken any action to intervene at the Construction and Sector Education and Training Authority (CETA).

We will also request that the CETA be summoned to account for the dismal state of affairs it finds itself in.

This comes after an email was sent to the members of the Portfolio Committee from a desperate employee in management at CETA, who wishes to remain anonymous, pleading for intervention into what they describe as a hostile work environment and a wastage of funds dedicated to a “witch hunt” for whistle-blowers within the CETA.

Just last month the DA wrote to the Minister urging him to put CETA under administration after the DA received allegations from several whistle-blowers on the misuse of funds; the awarding of contracts to friends; the development of a culture of intimidation by the CEO and the non-payment of monies owed to major grant recipients.

While the DA received an acknowledgement of receipt of our letter, the Minister has, to date, not bothered to reply.

It is now time that the Minister account for his lack of intervention and further that he commit to and present his plans to address the multiplicity of issues at CETA. 

CETA is also well known in the industry, and amongst students funded by it, for being inefficiently and ineffectively run - yet the Minister still refuses at take action to remedy this dire situation.

It is vitally important that the CETA works and continues to develop and transfer skills to so many South Africans who need it so that they may pursue a better life and one that they value. The failure of the CETA would cause deserving South Africans to be denied the opportunity to access a better quality of life through skills development and employment opportunities.

The Department needs to investigate and address the many allegations of corruption and mismanagement at this troubled organisation. To this end, Parliament must play its oversight role in holding the Minister and this public entity accountable.

Statement issued by Yusuf Cassim MP, DA Shadow deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, July 8 2015