Manamela demands stronger accountability across higher education sector

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has committed to strengthening oversight and accountability across the post-school education and training (PSET) sector.

Addressing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training during its consideration of the department’s 2025/26 Annual Report, Manamela said recurring weaknesses identified through oversight and audits must be addressed with concrete action.

The Minister said the department could no longer simply acknowledge findings raised by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), but must demonstrate that agreed corrective measures are being implemented.

“Corrective action must begin when weaknesses are identified, not when the next audit approaches. Where management has repeatedly been informed and agreed actions remain unimplemented, we must establish responsibility for that failure,” Manamela said.

He said repeated audit findings, unimplemented corrective measures and inadequate implementation had raised fundamental questions about accountability across the higher education and training portfolio.

“For the public, the question is straightforward: what will change because these matters have been brought before Parliament?” he said.

“A student waiting for an allowance, a graduate waiting for a certificate and a community waiting for a functioning college need more than another explanation. They need institutions that fulfil their responsibilities.”

Manamela acknowledged improvements in some areas of departmental performance reporting and modest progress in the audit outcomes of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

However, he said these improvements did not offset deterioration and persistent weaknesses in internal controls elsewhere across the portfolio.

The Minister said issues previously raised by Parliament, including vacancies, information systems, certification, performance evidence and consequence management, remain on the department’s oversight agenda.

He also highlighted recommendations from AGSA directed specifically at him, including stronger oversight of departmental executive management, clearer direction on reforms, greater scrutiny of governance and appointments, protection of skills funding and increased attention to learner outcomes.

Manamela said he and the Deputy Ministers would determine immediate corrective measures and longer-term reforms and ensure their implementation is monitored.

He stressed that accountability must extend across the department’s leadership, boards, councils, administrators and chief executives, as well as decisions taken by the Ministry.

“Accountability cannot apply only to people below us,” he said.

CETA and Northern Cape Urban TVET College under scrutiny

Manamela said concerns surrounding the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) require particular attention.

He said an institution under administration should demonstrate stronger governance and should not be subject to a lower standard of accountability.

The Minister said he would require a clear account of the implementation of forensic recommendations, as well as an evidence-based response to concerns relating to disciplinary processes, procurement and possible conflicts of interest.

He also addressed concerns surrounding Northern Cape Urban TVET College, calling for an urgent account of work already undertaken and details of further independent investigations required.

“Where forensic investigation is warranted, it must proceed without avoidable delay. Learners, records, and public resources must be protected while these matters are addressed,” Manamela said.