Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has committed his department to implementing the recommendations arising from Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigations.
Manamela made the commitment during a recent meeting with newly appointed SIU Head Leonard Lekgetho and his team, where he received a comprehensive update on investigations into allegations of maladministration, fraud, corruption and other wrongdoing within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector.
The investigations -- arising from Presidential Proclamations issued in terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996 -- cover several institutions and entities, including the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), National Skills Fund (NSF), University of Fort Hare, Vaal University of Technology and the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority.
The SIU has also completed investigations involving several Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA).
The investigations include allegations relating to irregular procurement and expenditure, fraud, maladministration, conflicts of interest, misuse of skills-development funding and matters affecting the integrity and awarding of qualifications.
Some of the matters date back more than a decade, highlighting the longstanding and, in some cases, legacy nature of the wrongdoing being addressed.
The Minister was briefed on completed and ongoing investigations, findings made, public funds recovered or secured for recovery, losses prevented, civil proceedings instituted and matters referred for criminal, disciplinary or regulatory action.
The SIU’s briefing recorded, among other outcomes:
• More than R2 billion in actual NSFAS-related recoveries from universities and TVET colleges;
• acknowledgements of debt worth approximately R5.4 million arising from the University of Fort Hare investigation;
• An acknowledgement of debt for approximately R2.7 million, plus interest and costs, arising from the Rubicon Communications matter involving the National Skills Fund, with repayments under way; and
• An estimated R109 million in future expenditure prevented following the cancellation of a security contract at the Vaal University of Technology.
Manamela said the SIU’s work is critical to restoring integrity across the PSET sector and ensuring that public resources are protected.
“Where public resources have been misused, there must be consequences. Where wrongdoing is established, those responsible must be held accountable. Where money can be recovered, it must be recovered and redirected to its intended purpose,” he said.
The Minister also warned against viewing the financial recoveries simply as figures, saying “every rand lost or misused is an opportunity denied to a student”.
He also stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of qualifications and ensuring that skills-development programmes funded by public resources are delivered.
Manamela emphasised that investigations must result in more than accountability for past wrongdoing and lead to improvements in the systems and controls that govern the sector.
He committed the department to act on SIU recommendations requiring changes to policy, systems, governance arrangements and institutional controls.
“We must not only investigate what went wrong; we must fix the systems that allowed it to happen. If an investigation identifies weaknesses in our policies, procurement systems, governance arrangements, financial controls or oversight mechanisms, we must be prepared to correct them. Accountability must result in institutional reform,” Manamela said.
He said the department will strengthen its monitoring of SIU matters across the portfolio, including the implementation of systemic recommendations and progress on civil, criminal, disciplinary and regulatory referrals.
Affected accounting authorities, institutional councils and management structures will be expected to account for action taken in response to SIU findings and recommendations.
Manamela further emphasised that the SIU must have access to the necessary information and cooperation to conduct its investigations independently and without interference.
At the same time, he warned that preliminary findings must not be treated as final determinations and that the rights of affected parties must be respected.
The engagement forms part of the department’s broader programme to strengthen governance, consequence management and accountability across the PSET system.
The department will continue cooperating with the SIU, law enforcement agencies and other competent authorities in pursuing corruption, fraud and maladministration.
“Our ultimate objective is to build a PSET system in which public resources are protected, institutions are properly governed, qualifications retain their integrity and students can have confidence that the system is working in their interests,” Manamela said. – SAnews.gov.za
