Parliament has urged the Department of Higher Education to rethink the SETA model, with Makhi Feni highlighting the importance of reform that preserves training continuity while addressing alleged inefficiencies.
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The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries has urged the Department of Higher Education to rethink and remodel the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) in line with calls for reform, following concerns about governance and effectiveness in the system.
This follows comments by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has called for an overhaul of South Africa’s SETA system, saying it is no longer fit for purpose and must be replaced with a more effective model aligned with the country’s economic needs.
The committee has since acknowledged these remarks as part of broader concerns about the performance of workplace training and skills development structures in the country.
Chairperson of the committee, Makhi Feni, said the President’s observations reflect issues that have developed over time and should be seen as an opportunity to reset the system to ensure that workplace training is effective and responsive to national needs.
He said SETAs were originally established to strengthen skills development across sectors and welcomed the renewed focus on improving their function.
“The SETAs were set up to enhance skills training in our country, and the committee welcomes the President’s view that there needs to be a change in the SETAs focus,” Feni said.
He added that the challenges facing SETAs are not necessarily rooted in the concept itself, but are largely due to governance difficulties that have affected their ability to deliver on their mandate.
According to him, too much attention has been placed on stabilising governance structures, while insufficient focus has been given to core training responsibilities.
“It is worth noting that the failure is not so much about the SETAs failing, but governance challenges. It seems that too much time has been spent stabilising governance of these entities, and less on what they were set up to do,” Feni said.
The SETAs, which are state-established bodies aimed at supporting workplace training and reducing the cost of entry-level employee development through subsidised and incentivised programmes, have faced ongoing scrutiny over their effectiveness.
Concerns have increasingly centred on administrative and governance matters, including board appointments, rather than their primary role of facilitating skills development.
Feni emphasised that the country must maintain momentum in addressing skills shortages and expanding access to workplace experiential learning.
He said the committee supports a reassessment of the SETA framework and called on the Department of Higher Education, as the custodian of these entities, to begin restructuring the system in line with the President’s position.
“The committee supports the President’s call for a change, as the recent talk has been on non-core operations of SETAs, like board appointments. We urge the Department of Higher Education, the custodian of these entities, to start rethinking and remodelling the SETAs in line with the President’s call,” he said.
He further stressed the importance of cooperation between employers and SETAs in shaping a future model that improves training outcomes while safeguarding the interests of those already enrolled in programmes.
Feni also indicated that allegations of maladministration in the sector require further formal investigation, with accountability measures to follow where appropriate.
“The interaction between employers and SETAs must establish how best to model a future SETA landscape without compromising the currently enrolled employees. The alleged rot in that space warrants more formal enquiry, and those found wanting should be taken to task,” said Feni.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
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