Allegations of nepotism and favouritism: Seta in sharp battle with Blade Nzimande

Allegations of nepotism and favouritism in scathing submission rock the construction, education and training authority

A sector education and training authority (Seta) has been rocked by allegations of nepotism and favouritism.

Webster Mfebe, board and executive committee member of the construction, education and training authority (Ceta), made a scathing submission on January 15 containing these allegations to deputy president David Mabuza and Philly Mapulane, the chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on higher education, science and technology.

Mfebe is also the chief executive officer (CEO) of the SA Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec), the biggest levy payer in the Ceta.

In his attempt to give credence to the allegations, Mfebe cited a notice issued by Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande in December last year to place the Ceta board under administration to protect former Ceta CEO Sonja Pilusa from being held accountable for alleged mismanagement.

Mfebe alleged that Nzimande was an associate of the former Ceta administrator, Themba Mhambi, who allegedly “parachuted” Pilusa to the top job in February 2013 before the board was appointed.

In the notice, Nzimande advised the board of his intentions to place it under administration because of R12 million irregular expenditure incurred by the Ceta due to an unauthorised increase of staff benefits in 2018/19 financial year.

In his submission, Mfebe said this was Nzimande’s strategy to disband the board and protect Pilusa.

Responding through her lawyer, Zandile Pepu of Pepu Attorneys, Pilusa denied that she was parachuted to the post, saying due process was followed.

She also denied that she was being protected by Nzimande.

“As a South African citizen I am at all times protected by the laws of our country.”

Mhambi said he did not consider himself an associate of Nzimande and denied that he parachuted Pilusa to the post.

“I have had the good fortune of sometimes serving my country under his executive leadership,” Mhambi said.

Nzimande’s spokesperson, Ishmael Mnisi, said last week: “The minister has not as yet made a determination on the matter [placing the Ceta under administration]. I will keep you posted on further developments.”

Mnisi had not responded to other questions, which included an allegation made by Mfebe that he was threatened by Nzimande over the phone after making his submission to Mabuza and Mapulane and that Nzimande was protecting Pilusa and Mhambi.

In the submission, which City Press has seen, Mfebe said Nzimande’s plan to place the Ceta under administration was unlawful because, for the past four years, including 2018/19, the Ceta consecutively obtained clean audits.

He told City Press last week that Safcec would challenge Nzimande in court if he went ahead with his plan.

City Press understands that Mabuza, who was sent the submission in his capacity as a leader of government business in Parliament, acknowledged receipt of Mfebe’s submission.

Mabuza’s office referred questions to Parliament.

Mapulane confirmed last week that he had received Mfebe’s submission.

He said Pilusa was asked to respond to Mfebe’s counter-allegation that she misled Parliament by claiming the board approved hiking staff benefits that resulted in irregular expenditure.

The board, Mapulane said, had tried to recover these amounts – a move that unfairly affected workers.

As a result of that decision, Mapulane said workers were forced to sell their cars and their homes to make repayments.

Subsequently, the board suspended its “stop-and-recover” decision in December last year following the November 26 committee meeting.

Mapulane said it was the committee’s call to Nzimande for the Ceta board to be placed under administration because its view was that the board had failed to discharge its governance responsibilities, which led to the irregular expenditure.

In the submission, Mfebe made a counter-allegation of mismanagement against Pilusa, who had earlier accused Mfebe of similar claims in a committee meeting on November 26 last year.

In it, Mfebe denied that:

. It was Safcec’s decision to send interns to occupy Ceta buildings. This allegation was made by Pilusa. Mfebe said it was Pilusa who offered to place Safcec interns in Ceta offices and that the Ceta paid only R8 750 to interns, not millions as was allegedly stated by Pilusa in the committee meeting; and

. He was part of a decision to approve the hiking of staff benefits at a meeting on March 8 last year.

“I must place on record that we are dealing with unfounded allegations from an individual who was seemingly irregularly parachuted into her position as CEO via an appointment letter dated February 14 2013, and signed by the former administrator [Mhambi] three months before the new board took office – a clear contravention of the applicable regulations in respect of the appointment of a Seta CEO as promulgated in the Government Gazette dated November 4 2011, duly signed on October 24 2011 by Nzimande.”

Furthermore, Mfebe said the board’s term of office ended in two months’ time, at the end of March.

If Nzimande’s plan succeeded, Mfebe said Pilusa would “escape public scrutiny and accountability as the current board will be gone and she will have the last laugh, so to speak”.

Pilusa hit back, questioning why Mfebe had not raised issues about her appointment when she was a CEO.

She said her appointment was a Cabinet decision. Three names were recommended to Nzimande by Mhambi after a selection process was conducted by an independent company.

Mhambi echoed Pilusa’s explanation.

Msindisi Fengu Journalist | City Press

+27 11 713 9001 Msindisi.Fengu@citypress.co.za Media Park, 69 Kingsway Road, Auckland Park

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