The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, has referred concerns regarding the governance and leadership of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology Sector Education and Training (MICT Seta) to the National Skills Authority for assessment.
This decision followed recent events concerning Seta's governing body and executive leadership, including the dismissal of senior officials. The department did not disclose the names of the dismissed individuals or the reasons for their departure.
MICT Seta is an institution with a documented history of governance challenges. This organization funds training and skills development programs in the ICT sector, covering areas from software development to drone pilot training.
In March of last year, Seta appeared before the parliamentary committee on higher education to report on the findings of the Special Investigative Unit's report on the irregular distribution of discretionary grants between 2014 and 2018. This incident led to disciplinary action and the initiation of cases against former employees.
The same hearing revealed dysfunction within the board of directors. The then-Chairperson of Seta spoke about a remuneration committee that held ten meetings over eight months in the previous period and insisted on appointments outside his authority, which, according to him, resulted in several dismissals. Furthermore, MPs questioned expenditures amounting to 1.6 million Rand for board members' travel expenses.
The instability in the board composition is documented: at the beginning of 2025, two positions on the governing body out of thirteen remained vacant. Last August, Seta reopened applications for a new governing body, which is currently under the minister's review. This body's term expires on March 31, 2030.
The Department of Higher Education and Training stated that the minister referred the matter to the National Skills Authority for a rapid assessment of governance and to develop recommendations for further action. This assessment is intended to establish relevant facts, analyze management processes, and determine necessary interventions to safeguard institutional stability, quality of service delivery, and good governance.
Manamela expects the skills authority to engage all stakeholders and submit an interim report on urgent matters, followed by a full report with proposals within the stipulated timeframe. This referral is part of a broader program to strengthen governance, accountability, and institutional effectiveness among education and training bodies as part of the government's 'Skills Revolution' programme.
The department emphasized that the goal is to ensure that every Seta remains focused on its core mission—developing the skills needed for inclusive economic growth, industrialization, and job creation. Manamela stressed that this referral should not be interpreted as an accusation against any individual or institution, but rather reflects only the 'government's commitment to resolving governance issues through transparent, fair, and evidence-based processes.' The department added that it will not speculate on matters under assessment and will consider the recommendations of the National Skills Authority before deciding on the need for further measures. The work of MICT Seta, including support for learners, employers, and skills development programmes, is expected to continue without interruption throughout the process.
The Minister of Higher Education, Buti Manamela, has ordered an urgent assessment of the management system within MICT SETA. He stated that this process will help strengthen accountability, institutional stability, and the quality of service delivery across the sector.
The Minister of Higher Education and Training conveyed concerns regarding the governance and leadership at the Media, Information and Communications Technology Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) to the National Skills Authority (NSA) for immediate evaluation.
This step followed management issues concerning accounting and executive leadership, as well as the recent departure of senior executives from MICT SETA.
In a statement by the Minister's spokesperson, Matshepo Siddata, it was mentioned that the NSA was requested to conduct a rapid management assessment. The goal of this assessment is to establish relevant facts, analyze management processes, and determine any necessary measures to safeguard institutional stability, service delivery, and proper governance.
Siddata added that the National Skills Authority is expected to first engage stakeholders before providing the minister with an interim report on urgent matters, and subsequently submitting a comprehensive report with recommendations within the stipulated timeframe.
According to the department, this initiative is part of a broader program aimed at strengthening governance, accountability, and institutional effectiveness across all Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) as part of the Government's 'Skills Revolution' initiative.
Siddata emphasized that the objective is to ensure that every SETA remains focused on its core mission—developing skills necessary for inclusive economic growth, industrialization, and job creation.
The department specifically noted that this directive should not be interpreted as an accusation against any individual or institution. The statement indicated that the Minister wishes to emphasize that this instruction should not be viewed as a finding against anyone or anything. Instead, it reflects the Government's commitment to resolving management challenges through transparent, fair, and evidence-based processes.
Furthermore, the department reported that it will not make assumptions about matters under assessment and will consider the NSA's recommendations before deciding on the need for further action. It was also noted that the operations of MICT SETA, including support for learners, employers, and skills development programs, must continue uninterrupted during the assessment period.
The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) is experiencing a serious corporate governance crisis, exacerbated by ongoing internal power struggles, despite key recommendations from the Mpati Inquiry Commission.
The Association for Monitoring and Protecting Public Pensions (AMAGP) notes that PIC has long been in the news for negative reasons because two important politically significant requirements have not been implemented. This situation followed the PIC board of directors suspending the CEO, Patrick Dlamini, on preliminary charges of corruption, mismanagement, and abuse of power.
This chaos revealed that critical reforms proposed by the Mpati Commission in 2020 remain unresolved. This occurred even though PIC management had previously assured Parliament of the full implementation of all recommendations. The Mpati Commission was established in October 2018 to investigate allegations of misconduct at PIC, which handles investigations into corruption, management failures, and improper investment decisions in Africa's largest shareholder company.
The Commission presented an important report containing 276 recommendations aimed at systemic corruption and governance issues. Specifically, the commission concluded that appointing a deputy minister as chairman of the board subjected PIC to serious political interference and institutional instability. The appointment of an independent, non-executive chairman with specialized expertise in finance, pension funds, and corporate governance was recommended. The report clearly stated that board member appointments should be based solely on professional merit and independent capability, not on political placement or patronage.
Furthermore, the commission instructed the PIC board of directors to officially review compliance, oversight, and governance structures concerning the reinstatement of company secretary Bongani Mathebula. After the report was published in 2018, a former risk management head was dismissed for his role and connections in the VBS Mutual Bank case. In October 2021, former CFO Matshepo More was also dismissed due to misconduct related to institutional irregularities. PIC is currently challenging a previous arbitration ruling that required its reinstatement.
Former Head of Legal and Compliance Ernest Nesane resigned before the completion of official disciplinary proceedings but was heavily involved in the VBS scandal. Kabelo Rikhotso, a former investment director, previously reached a settlement and left PIC following allegations of wrongdoing. Nevertheless, Nesane is currently facing legal action regarding his liability and recovery of funds.
Meanwhile, PIC has approved an updated anti-fraud and corruption system, ensuring independent investigation of internal whistleblowing from executive management. A specialized Ethics Office has also been established to monitor organizational ethics, manage consequences, and provide stricter oversight of daily operations and employee conduct.
Despite all the recommendations, PIC is now embroiled in serious internal disputes, culminating in the preliminary suspension of Dlamini and the removal of Acting Investment Director Augustus van Heerden. These disagreements coincide with increased public scrutiny of PIC's unlisted investment portfolio, where approximately 67 billion rand was invested in unlisted entities that have recorded significant financial losses.
At the heart of this board struggle lies a deeply contentious multi-million rand investment deal related to the Lanseria airport, which reportedly led to a 400% overvaluation error.
AMAGP Chairperson Zirk Gus stated that the current board conflict provides a clear picture of how the company is managed. He noted that it reinforces the view that PIC operates with questionable motives, jeopardizing institutional trust in the management of public pension funds. Gus called on the Standing Committee on Finance (SCOF) to demand full disclosure of hidden documents, adding that the first document for full disclosure should be GEPF's investment mandate for PIC, especially concerning unlisted investments.
He also emphasized that the commission recommended the board chairman be independent with a defined term and experience in the pension sector. Gus described the state-owned company's statement about fully implementing the recommendations as 'dishonest, which has eroded trust through its actions.' He concluded that removing political influence and controlling PIC and basing appointments on merit would be the first steps toward ensuring governance integrity.
Neither PIC nor Deputy Minister of Finance David Masondo, who chairs the PIC board, responded to requests for comment. Masondo's representative, Sifo Mofokeng, stated that the Deputy Minister would not respond to media inquiries while the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) investigation is ongoing. The regulatory intervention by the FSCA under Section 135 of the Financial Sector Regulation Act follows serious concerns regarding governance, transparency, and leadership stability at PIC.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana insisted in a statement made Wednesday morning that PIC has completed the implementation of the Mpati Commission's recommendations. Godongwana added that although challenges persist, PIC has made significant progress in strengthening the Corporation's governance system and oversight processes.
Meanwhile, the Public Service Association (PSA), representing over 240,000 public servants, expressed deep concern over developments at PIC. PSA stated: 'While GEPF remains financially sound and well-funded as a pension fund, recurring governance issues at PIC inevitably undermine the confidence of public servants whose retirement savings are entrusted to this institution. The most immediate impact is the erosion of trust. Members need assurance that investment decisions are made solely in their best interests and free from political or improper influence.'
