The Higher Education Portfolio Committee still wants Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela to explain why he placed three Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) under administration.

This comes after Manamela failed to give the explanation when the committee asked him to do so last week; instead, he notified MPs that he had requested the Public Service Commission (PSC) to vet the administrators.

This was revealed by committee Chairperson Tebogo Letsie, who wrote to the minister on Monday, indicating that they expected the answers to the questions posed to him last week.

Letsie first wrote to Manamela last Tuesday, the same day he announced the administrators, wanting to know his reasons for placing Local Government SETA, Services SETA, and Construction SETA under administration.

“We wrote not because we want to undermine his responsibilities that are given to him by the Skills Development Act as a minister, but so that we could be able to account to the people of South Africa,” he told Newzroom Afrika.

Letsie also said Manamela responded only on Saturday, stating that he was subjecting the appointments to the PSC and was willing to come before the committee to account.

“We asked him questions and we expect answers to those questions, and even though we accept that he wants to appear before the committee, he can’t dictate how we, as the portfolio committee, should hold him accountable. So we still want him to respond to the questions,” he said, adding that they did not have a problem with Manamela approaching the PSC.

Letsie explained that his Monday letter was similar to the one he wrote last Tuesday when he asked whether he vetted the administrators.

He said Manamela did not respond to that question other than say, “I will take this thing to the Public Service Commission.”

“We have rejected that. I have written to him and said I don’t take that.”

Letsie also said he had enquired from Manamela whether the vetting process had identified any irregularities as reported in the media regarding the SETA administrators’ appointments.

“We have also asked him what process he followed in placing these SETAs under administration, as we have seen letters from at least two CEOs indicating they intend to take the minister to court over this decision. We have asked him those questions, and we are not in any way trying to shield him from answering.”

One of the criticisms of the appointments was the history of the administrators, including reported acts of alleged fraud, corruption, and the mismanagement of public funds.

Letsie noted that there were calls that SETA board members should be subjected to public interviews by MPs before they are appointed.

“That is why, next week, when we meet in Saldana Bay, the portfolio committee in our strategic session have called the department to give us the Skills Development Act problem statement because we want to change it.

“Other members are saying board interviews must be done publicly by us. We can’t do it when we have not changed the Act. That is why I’ve put on the agenda that next week the department must come and present that particular issue.”

Letsie would not be drawn into commenting on the fitness of the administrators to lead the SETAs.

“As the chairperson, because I’m the spokesperson of the portfolio committee or the face of the portfolio committee, I have a responsibility to be very cautious not to make my opinion public.

“It is me who, at the end we question all of these things, must make a ruling to say, ‘this is what we have found about you or this appointment’,” he added.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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