Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has called on newly appointed Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) Accounting Authorities and Chief Executive Officers to drive a governance and performance reset.
Addressing the induction of SETA Accounting Authorities and CEOs in Boksburg on Thursday, Manamela warned that institutions failing to uphold accountability and public trust will face consequences.
He said the appointments carried significant public responsibility, as the institutions oversee substantial public resources and play a critical role in developing South Africa's workforce.
"Your appointment is not an administrative honour. It is a public duty. The decisions you take in the next few years will help determine whether South Africa builds the capabilities it needs to industrialise, to create work, to raise productivity, and to become a more equal society,” Manamela said.
The induction follows an engagement with the National Skills Authority (NSA) on 30 June, during which government agreed to embark on a governance and performance reset for the SETA system.
Manamela said political leadership would remain actively engaged in the sector to prevent institutional drift, weak governance, and poor performance.
"It is because our people cannot afford another season of institutional drift, weak governance, and programmes that consume public money without producing public value."
The Minister said South Africa's persistent unemployment, inequality, low economic growth, technological disruption, and skills shortages require more than incremental improvements.
"This demands more than incremental improvement. It demands a Skills Revolution."
He described the Skills Revolution as a programme aimed at reorganising the country's skills development system around economic and developmental needs by shifting the focus from training inputs to measurable employment, productivity and developmental outcomes.
Manamela stressed that SETAs should no longer be viewed as grant-disbursing agencies or bursary administrators but as strategic economic institutions responsible for aligning workplace learning with industry demand.
He said their success will increasingly be measured by their ability to close skills gaps, expand workplace-based learning, strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and community colleges, support workers adapting to technological change and improve access to sustainable employment.
The Minister also underscored the importance of good governance, saying governance failures ultimately harm learners, employers and communities.
He warned Accounting Authorities against interfering in management, while also warning executives against withholding information from boards or creating parallel centres of power.
“The Accounting Authority must govern. Executive management must manage. Chairpersons must not become executive chairpersons. Board members must not use their seats to chase contracts, appointments, or the interests of those who nominated them,” Manamela said.
Evidence engine of skills development
The Minister announced an expanded role for the National Skills Authority, describing it as the "evidence engine, consultation engine and governance conscience" of the country's skills development system.
He warned that no SETA or official will be allowed to ignore or obstruct the NSA in carrying out its lawful responsibilities. "We will not tolerate delayed documents. We will not tolerate selective disclosure. We will not tolerate correspondence that goes unanswered."
Manamela said the relationship between the Department of Higher Education and Training, the NSA and SETAs will become more structured, supported by new governance guidelines, standardised induction processes, quarterly performance reviews, governance indicators and closer collaboration with the Auditor-General.
The Minister outlined five commitments expected from all SETA Accounting Authorities and Chief Executive Officers, including recognising governance as a public duty; cooperating fully with oversight institutions; focusing on measurable outcomes; working as one integrated post-school education and training system; and aligning their work with the national Skills Revolution. – SAnews.gov.za
