Manamela facing deadline to explain his decision to place 3 SETAs under administration to MPs

CAPE TOWN - Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has until Wednesday to respond to Parliament’s portfolio committee to explain his decision to put three Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) under administration.

The deadline follows calls by parties for Manamela to explain whether he followed the correct procedures to place the construction SETA (CETA), services SETA (SSETA), and local government SETA (LGSETA) under administration last week.

Higher education committee chairperson, Tebogo Letsie, said that Manamela would have to explain whether he informed the relevant authority and the SETAs of his decision as required by legislation.

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Political parties are not only concerned that the minister may have flouted procedures in appointing the administrators, but they’ve also raised concerns that the appointees have a questionable history in their previous jobs.

Letsie has also added his voice, saying he’s written to Manamela to give clarity on the process and whether it was above board.

On Tuesday, Letsie said he wrote to Manamela on Monday again, informing him that the Constitution required him to account to the committee.

"He has still not responded. I've given him until tomorrow to respond to those particular questions. So, we don’t know what was the processes followed, that’s why we’ve asked."

The Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and MK Party have since called on Manamela to reverse the appointments.

The committee is expected to have a sit down with Manamela on 12 September.