Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has committed to stronger oversight and accountability across the post-school education and training (PSET) sector.
Addressing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training during its consideration of the department’s 2025/26 Annual Report, Manamela warned that recurring weaknesses cannot continue without consequences.
Manamela said the department must move beyond acknowledging findings raised by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) and demonstrate that corrective action is being implemented.
“Corrective action must begin when weaknesses are identified, not when the next audit approaches. Where management has repeatedly been informed and agreed actions remain unimplemented, we must establish responsibility for that failure,” the Minister said.
He said repeated findings, agreed corrective actions, and inadequate implementation has raised fundamental questions about accountability across the portfolio.
“For the public, the question is straightforward: what will change because these matters have been brought before Parliament? A student waiting for an allowance, a graduate waiting for a certificate and a community waiting for a functioning college need more than another explanation.
“They need institutions that fulfil their responsibilities. That is the standard against which we must be judged,” Manamela said.
While acknowledging improvements in aspects of departmental performance reporting and modest improvements in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college audit outcomes, Manamela said this progress does not offset deterioration and persistent control weaknesses elsewhere in the portfolio.
He said previous concerns raised by Parliament around vacancies, information systems, certification, performance evidence, and consequence management remain on the department’s oversight agenda.
Manamela said he has taken particular note of AGSA’s recommendations directed at him, including the need for stronger oversight of departmental executive management, clearer direction on reforms, greater scrutiny of governance and appointments, protection of skills funding, and increased attention to learner outcomes.
He committed, together with the Deputy Ministers, to determine the immediate corrective measures and longer-term reforms required and to oversee their implementation.
The Minister said accountability will extend across the department’s leadership, boards, councils, administrators and chief executives, as well as decisions taken by the Ministry.
“Accountability cannot apply only to people below us,” he said.
Manamela said the concerns raised about Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) require particular attention, saying an institution under administration should demonstrate stronger governance, not a different standard of accountability.
He said he will require a clear account of the implementation of forensic recommendations and an evidenced response to concerns around disciplinary processes, procurement, and possible conflicts of interest.
“I have also heard the concerns about Northern Cape Urban TVET College. We need an urgent, evidenced account of the work already undertaken and the further independent investigation required.
“Where forensic investigation is warranted, it must proceed without avoidable delay. Learners, records, and public resources must be protected while these matters are addressed,” Manamela said. – SAnews.gov.za
