Manamela Turns to PSC as SETA Administrator Appointments Spark Public Outcry

South Africans have seen many political storms blow over the years, but the latest thundercloud is gathering above the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). This week, Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela faced fierce public backlash over his decision to appoint three administrators to run struggling SETAs. Now, under mounting pressure, he has called on the Public Service Commission (PSC) to vet the very people he appointed.

The Controversial Appointments

At the centre of the storm are three figures:

• Lehlogonolo Masoga, former deputy speaker of the Limpopo Legislature, now administrator of the Services SETA.

• Oupa Nkoane, appointed to head the Construction SETA.

• Zukile Mvalo, tasked with the Local Government SETA.

Each of them carries a political CV. But critics say they also carry baggage, allegations of mismanagement and past controversies that should have disqualified them.

For example, Nkoane’s name surfaced in a forensic report tied to the R872 million mismanagement scandal at Emfuleni Municipality. Masoga, during his time as CEO of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone, was linked to a questionable contract worth R4.4 million. And Mvalo has been accused of failing to stabilise SETAs for nearly a decade.

Manamela’s Defence: Due Process or Damage Control?

Manamela insists the appointments weren’t made in haste. He says his department did its homework, allowing each candidate to respond to allegations before confirming them.

“The appointments were confirmed only after the department was satisfied that the appointees could carry out the mandate of stabilising the SETAs,” he said.

But his subsequent decision to rope in the PSC has raised eyebrows. To some, it looks like transparency; to others, it feels like damage control. “Where there is smoke, there is fire,” remarked DA MP Karabo Khakhau, who welcomed the PSC probe but argued that the move itself is an admission of scandal.

Opposition Parties Turn Up the Heat

The opposition wasted no time sharpening their criticism. Khakhau penned a letter urging Manamela to withdraw the appointments entirely, arguing that “administrators should be free of any and all allegations of corruption.”

The EFF’s Sihle Lonzi was even less forgiving: “He is undermining the intelligence of South Africans, especially the young people SETAs are supposed to serve,” Lonzi said, dismissing the PSC referral as meaningless because Manamela had already made his choice.

Inside Parliament: A Slow Grind

Behind the scenes in Parliament, the issue is being pulled into committee corridors. Khakhau has appealed to House Chairperson Cedric Frolick to intervene, complaining that the Higher Education Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Tebogo Letsie, was dragging his feet.

Letsie defended his approach, saying he had already requested reasons from Manamela for placing the SETAs under administration and wanted to wait for a reply before scheduling a briefing. But critics argue that committees have the power to summon ministers immediately and that the urgency of the matter demands it.

Why This Matters Beyond Politics

For ordinary South Africans, the controversy is about more than political mudslinging. SETAs are supposed to equip young people with skills and training, preparing them for the job market. With youth unemployment still stubbornly high, any sign that SETAs are being mismanaged or used as political parking bays for connected figures, strikes a raw nerve.

On social media, frustration is palpable. One comment on Facebook summed up the public mood: “SETAs are supposed to train our children, not recycle failed politicians.”

The PSC will now investigate the fitness and potential conflicts of interest of the three appointees. Manamela has promised to act on the findings “without fear or favour.” Whether that will restore public confidence remains to be seen.

For now, the controversy hangs over the SETAs like a cloud, with critics insisting the minister has already lost credibility. And as one political analyst noted this week: “You don’t ask the referee to check the rules after you’ve already scored the goal.”

{Source: IOL}

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