Construction Seta placed under administration

the construction sector's education and training authority, ceta, has been placed under administration by higher education and training director general gwebs qonde, qonde confirmed on wednesday.

ceta is one of three sectoral education and training authorities (setas) higher education and training minister blade nzimande has placed under administration, all covering crucial areas of the economy. the other two are the energy and the public service setas.

qonde said new evidence of compromises to good governance had come to the fore and the department had decided to place ceta under administration "in the interests of skills training and the public" the authority should be placed under administration.

this was despite the fact that the ceta, which last year obtained an interdict against the department, preventing it from placing the authority under administration. mr qonde said the interdict had been overtaken by new developments.

ceta board chairman frank fredericks said while he had no fight to pick with ceta's being placed under administration, there was some unhappiness among other board members and stakeholders who felt the ceta's fortunes had been on the mend sincce more chakane was appointed acting ceo late last year. the authority's 2009-10 audit was unqualified and "things had improved dramatically" at the seta, fredericks said.

however, ceta was cooperating with administrator themba mhambi, who is closing up his six-month administratorship of the public service seta.

"cooperation is the best way. we want the seta to serve the public," fredericks said.

master builders association ceo pierre fourie said the association had for years requested that ceta be placed under administration because of its poor financial management. the association would support the department and mhambi.

"we believe (placing ceta under administration) is a huge opportunity (to turn around its fortunes)," he said.

from friday sa's seta system will be changed. under the new system, ceta is to get a new board, management and constitution. it will also gain responsibility for training skills in electrical contracting. there are several changes to other setas.