ETDP SETA Pushes Back On R690k ‘Empty Office’ Claims As Workspace Crisis Deepens

A storm has been brewing around the offices of the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority, better known as ETDP SETA. At the centre of it all is a headline-grabbing claim that the entity has been paying nearly R700,000 a month for a building that stood empty.

But according to the organisation, that version of events tells only part of the story.

ETDP SETA Sets The Record Straight

Appearing before Parliament’s Higher Education Portfolio Committee, ETDP SETA’s finance manager, Khawedzo Ngaledzani, pushed back against what he described as misleading reporting.

He explained that the office space on Mooi Street in Johannesburg was not sitting idle for months on end. Instead, staff had occupied the building from July 2024 until April 2025.

The shift came when leadership instructed employees to work from home in late April 2025, a move that has since raised questions about operational efficiency and cost management.

Even after that decision, the building was not completely abandoned. Between May and July 2025, staff still accessed the space for administrative work and to manage IT systems.

The Numbers Behind The Controversy

The figure that sparked outrage was a reported R15 million spent on the building. ETDP SETA says that number is inaccurate.

Ngaledzani told MPs that the actual amount paid came to R8.9 million, covering the period from July 2024 to July 2025. Importantly, he added that no payments were made after July 2025, despite claims suggesting ongoing costs.

The leasing process itself, according to the entity, followed National Treasury regulations and internal procurement rules. It began as far back as 2020, with a formal tender process only concluding in 2024.

This detail matters in a South African context where public sector leasing deals often come under intense scrutiny, especially given past controversies involving inflated property contracts across government departments.

From Office Space To Office Crisis

While the financial figures are being debated, a more immediate issue has emerged. ETDP SETA currently does not have a stable, fully functional office base.

Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela did not mince his words, describing the situation as a crisis. Staff are either working remotely or scattered across different locations in the city, a setup that could impact service delivery in a sector already under pressure.

Board chairperson Olwethu Sipuka told the committee that a temporary solution had been secured and that a return to office work is expected soon.

For many South Africans, especially those relying on SETAs for training opportunities and funding, the question is simple. Can the institution function effectively without a proper home base?

Leadership Turmoil Adds To The Pressure

The office saga is unfolding against a backdrop of deeper instability within ETDP SETA.

The organisation is already under fire over allegations that it failed to account for hundreds of millions in discretionary grant funding. At the same time, its suspended acting CEO, Nokukhanya Mafahla, has taken legal action against the institution.

Her suspension, along with that of the CFO, has raised eyebrows in Parliament. MPs questioned why such a serious step was taken without formal charges being announced.

Sipuka told the committee that a forensic audit had recommended suspensions to protect the integrity of ongoing processes, even though no charges have yet been laid.

That explanation did little to ease concerns. Some MPs openly suggested that the situation does not add up, hinting at deeper governance issues within the entity.

A Test Of Accountability

The unfolding developments place ETDP SETA under intense public and political scrutiny. In a country where skills development is closely tied to tackling unemployment, the stakes are high.

Beyond the numbers and legal battles, the real issue is trust. Can the institution reassure South Africans that it is managing public funds responsibly while still delivering on its mandate?

For now, ETDP SETA insists that it followed the rules and that the facts have been misunderstood. But with Parliament watching closely and internal challenges mounting, this story is far from over.