Speaker and members of the House, the members of the portfolio committee scrutinised the strategic plans of the three Sector Education and Training Authorities, Setas. These are the Safety and Security Seta that accounts for a budget of R204 million; the Construction Seta, responsible for R313 million; and the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Seta, responsible for R248 million. These three Setas, collectively, command a colossal budget of R750 million.
Our observations were that the Safety and Security Seta concentrates on adult education and training programmes and also provides unaccredited courses that do not add value to the improvement of their sector. We have recommended, in that regard, that they revise their strategic plan to reflect the strategic imperatives of their sector.
However, I must also note that, in terms of their strategic planning this financial year, they have offered to support various vocational programmes amounting to 3 000 programmes in 10 colleges in terms of the National Skills Development Strategy III, as recently introduced by the Minister.
With regard to learnerships, they have only been able to place 162 learners whereas, in terms of their target, they ought to have placed 1 500 learners across the country. Their overall strategic plan did not reflect their targets properly and we said that it must be revised. This is in order for them to meet the requirements with regard to auditing, which will happen at a later stage.
The second Seta that we analysed was the Construction Seta which has been characterised by underperformance for the past six years. It had 300 unsuccessful projects, 80% of which were interspersed with fraudulent activities. The board of this Seta was subsequently dissolved and the Seta put under administration by the Minister.
The administrator discovered that out of a sample of 25 projects that were analysed by the internal auditor of the Seta, there were fraudulent activities in 20 projects. These projects involved R13,6 million.
Out of a target of 6 000 Adult Basic Education and Training, Abet, learners they were only able to train 1 277 learners. Most of them ended up as drop- outs. We recommend that the Minister pursues investigations with regard to the allegations which the administrator raised with the portfolio committee.
We are saying that this Seta could not present a strategic plan owing to the organisational paralysis to which I have alluded. We await finalisation of the strategic plan which will be provided upon the stabilisation of the organisation.
The third Seta that we dealt with was the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Seta. This is a new Seta which is an amalgam of the Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather Seta; the Forest Industries Seta; and the Printing, Packaging, Publishing subsectors of the Media, Advertising, Publishing, Printing and Packaging Seta, MAPPP Seta.
This Seta has been able to enrol a number of students for a Masters programme in Textile Engineering in the Czech Republic and we commend them for these efforts. We hope that these people will be integrated into our economy to improve our performance in that area.
We were impressed by the strategic plan of this Seta, which eclipsed the National Human Resources Development Strategy, the National Skills Development Strategy III and the Industrial Policy Action Plan.
We have also noted the comprehensive financial review of the Seta boards and the advent of the new Seta landscape unveiled by the Minister. These, we believe, are significant levels that will introduce radical transformation and the reconfiguration of the Seta landscape.
In this context, we recommend that the Setas establish their footprint across the entire country and foster and promote partnerships with the industry, professional bodies and quality councils. The Seta forum must forge intersectoral collaboration and co-ordination in the quest for an integrated, holistic and similar Seta landscape.
The Setas ought to scrutinise and approve meaningful and realistic workplace skills plans and also produce sector skills plans which will enhance productivity in their respective sectors and invigorate our economic competitiveness on a global scale.
We recommend that the House adopts this report. Thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Hon members, the noise level in the House is too high. May I also ask hon members to take their seats? If hon members have lengthy discussions to conclude, do it outside the House, please.
There was no debate.
House Chairperson, I move:
That the report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.