Buti Manamela sparks outrage in South Africa with controversial Seta appointments

A major political row has erupted following Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela’s decision to place three troubled Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) under administration. The intervention, meant to restore stability and accountability, has instead attracted sharp criticism from the DA, the EFF and civil society watchdogs, who argue that the administrators appointed are themselves tainted by corruption and poor track records.

On 19 August, Manamela announced the appointment of Oupa Nkoane at the Construction Seta (Ceta), Lehlogonolo Masoga at the Services Seta (SSeta) and Zukile Mvalo at the Local Government Seta (LGSeta). The minister justified the move by pointing to “serious governance failures, procurement irregularities and unstable boards” across the sector, insisting the intervention was necessary to safeguard the integrity of South Africa’s skills development framework.

Opposition anger: ‘Wrong people for the job’

The opposition, however, has lambasted the decision. DA MP Karabo Khakhau accused the minister of recycling “discredited figures” rather than bringing in credible leadership. She pointed to allegations that Nkoane and Masoga were involved in corruption cases involving millions of rand. “Instead of cleaning up the system, this simply entrenches the cycle of cadre deployment that has crippled the Setas for years,” she argued.

EFF student leader Sihle Lonzi echoed the sentiment, saying the minister had squandered an opportunity to restore trust. “We wanted him to learn from his predecessor’s mistakes. Instead, we see the same capture of institutions through ANC loyalists. This is not transformation — it is continuity of corruption,” Lonzi declared.

Setas: A system plagued by mismanagement

Established under the 1998 Skills Development Act, South Africa’s 21 Setas are tasked with equipping workers with the skills required by the economy, while helping to tackle youth unemployment. In practice, however, the system has long been dogged by scandals. Investigations have uncovered irregular tenders, inflated contracts, and unpaid stipends across multiple Setas, undermining their mandate to provide training and certification.

Recent cases include the Health and Welfare Seta, which reported over R1.7 million in wasteful expenditure, and the Services Seta, linked to questionable contracts worth hundreds of millions. The Local Government Seta has faced scrutiny for a procurement process worth R2.3 billion, marred by non-compliance and allegations of political interference.

Profiles under scrutiny

Critics argue that the new administrators symbolise the very failures they are meant to fix. Oupa Nkoane was implicated in a forensic report into the Emfuleni Local Municipality, which revealed R872 million in irregular expenditure. A criminal case was subsequently opened, though it has yet to conclude.

Lehlogonolo Masoga, a former Limpopo provincial politician, faced a scandal over an excessive overseas phone bill, and was later implicated in a forensic report alleging irregularities at the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone. The report highlighted a backdated contract worth R4.4 million, raising red flags about procurement practices.

Zukile Mvalo, the only appointee not directly linked to corruption, has nevertheless been criticised for presiding over years of instability within the Department of Higher Education’s skills development division, which has oversight of all 21 Setas.

Administration: a temporary fix or political tool?

Under South African law, when a Seta is placed under administration, the appointed administrator assumes the powers of its board and executive leadership. This is designed as a corrective measure for institutions facing collapse. Yet critics argue that the mechanism has increasingly been used as a tool for political control rather than genuine reform.

Recent interventions highlight this trend. In April 2024, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was placed under administration, with Sithembiso Nomvalo appointed to lead the recovery process. Several universities — including the University of South Africa and Fort Hare — have also been placed under administration in recent years, reflecting a broader governance crisis in higher education.

Civil society weighs in

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) warned that placing Setas under administration without addressing root causes would not deliver results. CEO Wayne Duvenage compared the move to “giving the job back to the contractor who botched it the first time”. He called for a two-month deadline for the administrators to hand over to new, credible boards recruited transparently and free from political interference.

Duvenage stressed that billions of rand flow through Setas annually, funded by taxpayers and employers. “That money is meant to upskill our young people, not to bankroll corruption networks. South Africa cannot afford another wasted decade in skills development,” he said.

Future uncertain

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has requested a full briefing from the minister, while civil society is demanding stronger accountability mechanisms, protection for whistleblowers, and visible consequence management for those implicated in wrongdoing. Until then, the appointments have deepened doubts about whether the skills development system can ever escape its reputation for political patronage and financial mismanagement.

As South Africa grapples with high unemployment and a growing demand for skilled artisans, the controversy highlights an uncomfortable truth: without a radical overhaul, Setas risk remaining symbols of dysfunction rather than engines of opportunity.