Masoga declares war on financial misconduct at Services SETA
Services SETA Administrator Lehlogonolo Masoga has warned that firm action will be taken against officials implicated in financial mismanagement as the organisation moves to stabilise its operations and improve governance.
Speaking at the Services SETA annual general meeting at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on Wednesday, Masoga said the institution had been hit by “allegations of malfeasance and gross misconduct”, prompting internal investigations and the involvement of law-enforcement agencies.
“During the period under review, the Services SETA was afflicted by allegations of malfeasance and gross misconduct which triggered internal investigations and involvement of law enforcement agencies,” he said.
He added that “work is currently underway to enforce consequence management and accountability”.
Masoga took over in August after Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela placed the country’s largest SETA under administration. He said the most recent findings from the Auditor-General of South Africa showed some progress in tightening financial controls after years of poor audit outcomes.
“It is indeed regrettable that 2024/25 financial year marked an uninterrupted record of poor audit outcomes and inadequate achievement of performance targets,” he said.
According to the AGSA, these outcomes were linked to “poor forward planning and leadership, inadequate efforts to clear legacy balances, method of estimation used to determine and assess provisions, and processes followed to evaluate Discretionary Grants awarded”.
However, Masoga insisted the SETA was beginning to recover.
“Despite all these challenges, it is not doom and gloom,” he said.
The institution reported that Discretionary Grant expenditure accounted for 51% of total spending, up from 48% in 2023/24. Annual revenue increased by 12% to R2.087 billion. Learner enrolment rose sharply from 16 891 in 2023/24 to 28 060 in 2024/25, with an 80% throughput rate.
Masoga said the SETA remained focused on its mandate to support unemployed youth and workers seeking skills training.
“The Services SETA is duty-bound to provide hope to many disadvantaged unemployed youth and workers yearning for access to quality education and training and no unwarranted man-made blockages must be tolerated,” he said.
The organisation also noted ongoing employer participation in absorbing graduates and supporting entrepreneurship among programme beneficiaries.
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