Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has called on newly appointed Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) Accounting Authorities and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) to lead a governance and performance reset aimed at strengthening South Africa's skills development system.
Speaking during the induction of SETA Accounting Authorities and CEOs in Boksburg on Thursday, the Minister stressed that strong governance, accountability and improved performance will be essential if SETAs are to help address South Africa's unemployment and skills shortages.
Minister Calls For Greater Accountability At SETAs
Manamela reminded newly appointed leaders that their roles carry significant public responsibility, as SETAs manage substantial public funding and play a vital role in developing the country's workforce.
"Your appointment is not an administrative honour. It is a public duty. The decisions you take in the next few years will help determine whether South Africa builds the capabilities it needs to industrialise, to create work, to raise productivity, and to become a more equal society,” Manamela said.
The induction follows an engagement between government and the National Skills Authority (NSA) on 30 June, where a decision was taken to embark on a governance and performance reset across the SETA system.
Manamela said the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) will remain actively involved to prevent poor governance, institutional decline and ineffective use of public funds.
"It is because our people cannot afford another season of institutional drift, weak governance, and programmes that consume public money without producing public value."
Skills Revolution Needed To Address South Africa's Challenges
The Minister said South Africa's ongoing challenges—including high unemployment, inequality, slow economic growth, technological disruption and critical skills shortages—require a bold new approach rather than small improvements.
"This demands more than incremental improvement. It demands a Skills Revolution."
According to Manamela, the proposed Skills Revolution will reshape South Africa's skills development system by aligning training with the country's economic priorities and labour market needs. Rather than measuring success by the number of training programmes offered, the focus will shift towards employment outcomes, productivity and sustainable economic development.
He added that SETAs should no longer be viewed simply as organisations that distribute grants or administer bursaries. Instead, they must function as strategic economic institutions that connect workplace learning with industry demand.
The Minister said SETAs will increasingly be assessed on their ability to close critical skills gaps, expand workplace-based learning opportunities, strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and Community Education and Training (CET) colleges, help workers adapt to technological change and improve access to sustainable employment.
Governance Failures Affect Learners And Employers
Manamela emphasised that poor governance ultimately impacts learners, employers and communities who rely on effective skills development programmes.
He cautioned Accounting Authorities against becoming involved in day-to-day management, while also warning executive management against withholding information from governing boards or creating competing centres of authority.
“The Accounting Authority must govern. Executive management must manage. Chairpersons must not become executive chairpersons. Board members must not use their seats to chase contracts, appointments, or the interests of those who nominated them,” Manamela said.
National Skills Authority To Play Expanded Oversight Role
The Minister announced that the National Skills Authority will take on an expanded oversight role, describing it as the "evidence engine, consultation engine and governance conscience" of South Africa's skills development system.
He warned that SETAs and public officials will be expected to cooperate fully with the NSA in carrying out its statutory responsibilities.
"We will not tolerate delayed documents. We will not tolerate selective disclosure. We will not tolerate correspondence that goes unanswered."
Manamela said the relationship between the DHET, the National Skills Authority and SETAs will become more structured through new governance guidelines, standardised induction processes, quarterly performance reviews, governance indicators and closer collaboration with the Auditor-General.
Five Commitments Expected From SETA Leadership
The Minister concluded by outlining five key commitments expected from all SETA Accounting Authorities and Chief Executive Officers. These include recognising governance as a public responsibility, fully cooperating with oversight institutions, focusing on measurable outcomes, working together as part of an integrated post-school education and training system, and aligning their work with South Africa's Skills Revolution.
