Minister Buti Manamela Defends ‘Essential’ Administration of Three Embattled SETAs as Governance Turnaround Gains Momentum

Minister Buti Manamela briefs media on the progress of administrators in three embattled SETAs, citing essential reforms to curb corruption and protect public funds.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 3, 2026, 7:13 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TimesLIVE

Mid-Term Progress on SETA Administration

Speaking at the Ronnie Mamoepa Media Centre in Pretoria on March 3, 2026, Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela provided a detailed update on the status of three Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) placed under administration in August 2025. The Local Government SETA (LGSETA), the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA), and the Services SETA (SSeta) were initially gazetted for intervention following decades of governance failures, procurement irregularities, and board instability. Manamela told reporters that the six-month mark represents a "critical turning point" where systemic rot is finally being replaced by institutional order.

Restoring Integrity Amid Corruption Allegations

The Minister detailed the "harrowing" state of affairs he encountered upon assuming office, citing forensic reports that had been ignored for years. Specifically, he noted that at the Construction SETA (CETA), over R13 million had been siphoned through fraudulent biometric system contracts under previous leadership. At the Services SETA, procurement irregularities had reportedly become "the norm," with boards turning a blind eye to recycled service providers. Manamela asserted that the appointed administrators Matjie Lehlogonolo Alfred Masoga (Services), Dithabe Oupa Nkoane (CETA), and Zukile Christopher Mvalo (LGSETA) have been successful in enforcing consequence management and ensuring that learner stipends are no longer held hostage by administrative dysfunction.

Addressing the "Cadre Deployment" Backlash

The briefing comes at a time of intense political scrutiny for Manamela. Opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), have labeled the appointments of these administrators as a "new national scandal," alleging they are ANC-aligned cadres with their own histories of mismanagement. In response, Manamela highlighted that he has formally requested the Public Service Commission (PSC) to conduct "fit-and-proper" assessments and conflict-of-interest vetting for all three administrators. "Our priority is to stabilize governance and protect public funds," Manamela stated, defending his "prerogative" to headhunt qualified individuals to save institutions on the brink of collapse.