Pretoria: Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has committed his department to implementing the recommendations arising from Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigations. Manamela made the commitment during a recent meeting with newly appointed SIU Head Leonard Lekgetho and his team, where he received a comprehensive update on investigations into allegations of maladministration, fraud, corruption, and other wrongdoing within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector.
According to South African Government News Agency, the investigations stem from Presidential Proclamations issued under the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996, covering various institutions and entities, including the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), National Skills Fund (NSF), University of Fort Hare, Vaal University of Technology, and the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority. The SIU has also completed investigations involving several Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA).
The investigations include allegations relating to irregular procurement and expenditure, fraud, maladministration, conflicts of interest, misuse of skills-development funding, and matters affecting the integrity and awarding of qualifications. Some of the matters date back more than a decade, highlighting the longstanding and, in some cases, legacy nature of the wrongdoing being addressed.
The Minister was briefed on completed and ongoing investigations, findings made, public funds recovered or secured for recovery, losses prevented, civil proceedings instituted, and matters referred for criminal, disciplinary, or regulatory action. The SIU's briefing recorded more than R2 billion in actual NSFAS-related recoveries from universities and TVET colleges, acknowledgements of debt worth approximately R5.4 million arising from the University of Fort Hare investigation, and an estimated R109 million in future expenditure prevented following the cancellation of a security contract at the Vaal University of Technology.
Manamela stated that the SIU's work is critical to restoring integrity across the PSET sector and ensuring that public resources are protected. He emphasized the importance of holding accountable those responsible for misuse and ensuring that recovered funds are redirected to their intended purposes. Manamela also stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of qualifications and ensuring that skills-development programs funded by public resources are delivered.
The Minister committed the department to act on SIU recommendations requiring changes to policy, systems, governance arrangements, and institutional controls. He emphasized that investigations must lead to improvements in the systems and controls that govern the sector. The department will strengthen its monitoring of SIU matters across the portfolio, including the implementation of systemic recommendations and progress on civil, criminal, disciplinary, and regulatory referrals.
Manamela further emphasized that the SIU must have access to the necessary information and cooperation to conduct its investigations independently and without interference. He warned that preliminary findings must not be treated as final determinations and that the rights of affected parties must be respected. The engagement forms part of the department's broader program to strengthen governance, consequence management, and accountability across the PSET system.
The department will continue cooperating with the SIU, law enforcement agencies, and other competent authorities in pursuing corruption, fraud, and maladministration. 'Our ultimate objective is to build a PSET system in which public resources are protected, institutions are properly governed, qualifications retain their integrity, and students can have confidence that the system is working in their interests,' Manamela said.