Whistleblower Shines Light on Deep-Rooted Corruption at CETA, Minister Faces Backlash

How one brave insider’s revelations have stirred up a storm in South Africa’s education sector

When Tumi*, a seasoned procurement professional, decided to break her silence, she wasn’t just sharing a personal story, she was peeling back the curtain on a tangled web of corruption inside one of South Africa’s most important Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA): the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA).

Tumi’s experience isn’t just a cautionary tale about dodgy tenders and shady suppliers. It’s a window into how entrenched issues inside public institutions can persist despite probes and promises, and how whistleblowers often pay a heavy price for speaking out.

A decade of warning signs ignored

Since joining CETA in 2012, Tumi made compliance her mission, adhering strictly to supply chain management rules in an organisation already under administration. But her efforts to keep things above board came at a cost — suspensions, victimisation, and being sidelined when she tried to stop irregularities.

By 2015 and 2016, Tumi was already flagging suspicious procurement activities, only to be put on gardening leave. She says, “I could have prevented it, but I was not allowed to play my role.”

The tension inside CETA exploded into the open when the Duja Forensic Report was published after a costly R18.9 million investigation. The report revealed jaw-dropping lapses: R738 million in discretionary grants handed out without oversight, bloated executive salaries with little accountability, and the accreditation of training providers that didn’t meet standards.

Parliament’s angry response and the Minister’s apology

When this report landed before the Parliamentary Higher Education Committee in May, MPs were shocked, and furious. The department had sat on these findings for more than a year without meaningful action.

The spotlight then turned on Minister Nobuhle Nkabane. Facing tough questions about her controversial appointments of chairpersons to 21 SETAs, many of which she later withdrew without transparent explanation, the Minister found herself under fire. In an unprecedented moment, Nkabane was publicly rebuked by President Cyril Ramaphosa for damaging Parliament’s reputation and was forced to apologise for her conduct during the hearing.

Social media erupted with calls for accountability and stronger protections for whistleblowers like Tumi. Many South Africans expressed frustration over what they see as a revolving door of corruption and political interference in critical public institutions.

A broader picture of systemic decay

Tumi’s story highlights a problem not unique to CETA. SETAs across South Africa have long been under scrutiny for governance challenges, inefficiencies, and corruption allegations. These bodies are vital for skills development, especially in sectors like construction, where training directly impacts economic growth and job creation.

The repeated failure to act on corruption reports deepens public mistrust and puts vital skills development at risk. For workers and trainees depending on SETAs, delays and mismanagement aren’t just bureaucratic headaches — they threaten real opportunities.

What needs to change

The CETA saga reveals how whistleblowers, despite their critical role in exposing wrongdoing, remain vulnerable. Tumi’s call for urgent intervention from the highest levels of government is a plea for protection, transparency, and decisive action.

For President Ramaphosa and Minister Nkabane, the path forward means not just damage control but restoring faith in institutions meant to serve the people. It means cleaning house, ensuring accountability, and fostering a culture where speaking out against corruption is met with support, not punishment.

The eyes of South Africans are watching closely. The question now is: will this scandal be a turning point or just another chapter in a long story of stalled reform?

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com