Nzimande gets backing for Seta revamp

Johannesburg - The National Skills Authority (NSA) is backing Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande over changes he wants to make to the constitution for Sector Education Training Authorities (Setas).

Nzimande has been embroiled in a spat with Services Seta chief executive Ivor Blumenthal, who has said he will take the minister to court over a lack of consultation on the proposed new constitution and unlawful interventions by the department in the way Setas are governed.

"It has to be noted that the issue relating to the Minister's consultation with the NSA was raised as a concern with him and was later resolved and closed," NSA chairperson Edward Majadibodu said on Tuesday.

The NSA which advises the minister on skills development.

Majadibodu said the NSA had advised Nzimande on five key principles from which the main changes in the constitution model were based.

The changes include the appointment of an independent chairperson of the Seta board, ministerial appointees, conflict of interest and the appointment of Seta CEOs.

"The NSA held a meeting on 29 March 2011 and all its members present in that meeting fully supported these principles and also highlighted areas for which the minister should give due consideration when implementing the Seta constitution," Majadibodu said.

"The NSA supports and remains committed to the transformation of the skills development system and in particular the improvement of performance and governance of the Seta."

Blumenthal said the attempted overhaul of the Setas by Nzimande could result in a boycott by business of the payment of the skills development levy.

He said Nzimande wanted to reduce the size of the Seta boards to 15 members, a move which would silence small industries and businesses that made up 90% of the 180 000 companies associated with the Services Seta.

Each of the Setas has been asked separately to sign the same constitution.

Nzimande read Setas the riot act last year over their poor quality training and their overspending, saying that an average learnership cost between R40 000 and R50 000.