SETA overhaul: government hails clean-up, critics slam cadre deployment

The appointment of three administrators for three of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) has been met with mixed reactions.

While some have hailed it as a good step towards restoring integrity in a notoriously mismanaged entity, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called the appointees “corruption-implicated ANC cadres.”

On 19 August 2025, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, announced the appointments of:

• Matjie Lehlogonolo Alfred Masoga – Administrator of the Services SETA
• Dithabe Oupa Nkoane – Administrator of the Construction SETA (CETA)
• Zukile Christopher Mvalo – Administrator of the Local Government SETA (LGSETA)

Very broadly, 21 SETAs were established by the 1998 Skills Act to promote skills development within specific economic sectors. 

According to the Higher Education budget the national skills development arm of the department, consisting of the SETAs and the National Skills Fund, have a combined budget of R26 billion for the current financial year.

SETA has long been involved in scandals, prompting the move by Manamela to place them under administration.

The Higher Education department said that the appointments follow “serious and entrenched governance failures in these entities, including procurement irregularities, lapses in oversight, and board instability.”

“This decision marks the first step in stabilising SETA governance. We cannot allow governance failures to erode the public’s confidence in our skills development system,” said Manamela.

“Our goal is to reposition SETAs so they can contribute effectively to the fight against unemployment, poverty, and inequality.”

Manamela said the administrators are tasked with restoring governance and financial integrity, enforcing consequence management, ensuring programmes continue, and overseeing the appointment of new Accounting Authorities.

“We cannot allow governance failures to erode the public’s confidence in our skills development system. Our goal is to reposition SETAs so they can contribute effectively to the fight against unemployment, poverty and inequality.”

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) said that it “has long exposed corruption at CETA and Services SETA – from R44k umbrellas to fake biometric systems.”

“Placing them under administration is a win for truth, made possible by brave whistleblowers who spoke up.”

The allegations against the appointees

DA Member of Committee on Higher Education and Training, Karabo Khakhau, called the appointees “unfit- implicated in corruption, mismanagement, fraud in previous government jobs – or have proved themselves useless in the SETA space already.”

The DA said that the appointees are embroiled in maladministration scandals, which includes:

• Oupa Nkoane – Former Emfuleni municipal manager, allegedly implicated in mismanaging R872 million (Comperio forensic report).
• Lehlohonolo Masoga – Former ANC Limpopo MEC & Deputy Speaker, allegedly implicated in R4.4 million backdated contract irregularities at Musina-Makhado SEZ (Morar forensic report).
• Zukile Mvalo – DHET Deputy DG for skills development since 2017, linked to repeated irregular/fruitless expenditure at SETAs.

“Manamela announced these appointments saying they are to address serious and entrenched governance failures in these entities… how on earth can this be addressed by corruption, fraud, mismanagement implicated ANC cadres?” said Khakhau.

The Higher Education Department defended the appointments, saying:

• Oupa Nkoane has “more than 20 years’ experience in public administration, governance, and infrastructure development.”
• Lehlohonolo Masoga is “a seasoned public leader with extensive experience in governance, economic development, and strategic management.”
• Zukile Mvalo is “the current Deputy Director-General for Skills Development…with direct oversight of all 22 SETAs, the National Skills Authority, and the QCTO since 2013.”

“Notwithstanding the history of these administrators, be assured that OUTA will keep a very close eye on their decisions and performance with regards to the instructions by the minister,” said OUTA.

“We will not hesitate to hold them to account where necessary.”

The same path as Nkabane?

Khakhau asked whether “Minister Manamela will fail his first test of ANC cadre deployment, or will he go down the same path as Nobuhle Nkabane?”

Former Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane was dismissed by President Cyril Ramaphosa on July 21, 2025, largely due to a scandal involving the appointment SETA board chairpersons.

The controversy arose when it was revealed that many appointees, including politically connected individuals like Buyambo Mantashe, son of Minister Gwede Mantashe, had ties to the ANC.

Nkabane claimed an independent panel, including advocate Terry Motau, her chief of staff Nelisiwe Semane, and others, oversaw the appointments.

However, these officials denied involvement, and Motau confirmed he never participated, contradicting Nkabane’s claims of a transparent process.

Her refusal to disclose panel details initially, coupled with allegations of misleading Parliament and favouring ANC cadres, sparked public and parliamentary outrage.

Nkabane’s absence from a key committee meeting on July 18, 2025, further fueled criticism, leading to her referral to the Ethics Committee by the DA and an investigation by the Hawks for alleged fraud.

These events culminated in her dismissal, with Buti Manamela appointed as her replacement.

“We demand that Manamela stop this, and appoint independent non-political persons free of corruption implications to deliver an effective turn-around of the system,” said Khakhau.