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Ceta’s R200m questions

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Picture: ceta.org.za
Picture: ceta.org.za

Fresh out of administration, the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) has once again been dogged by allegations of contract irregularities of close to R200 million and the enrolment of ghost students.

In 2011 the Ceta, which trains and provides bursaries for learners interested in entering the construction industry, was placed under administration by the department of higher education and training after being cited by the Auditor General for poor performance.

In the past few weeks emails have been circulating between the Ceta and the department regarding the alleged enrolment of ghost learners, tenders being awarded to previous employees and intimidation of whistle-blowers.

According to a Ceta performance management report, which has been seen by City Press, 345 students were expected to complete their learnerships in March. But supporting documents for the enrolment figures were missing, suggesting that the figures could have been inflated.

Whistle-blowers have alleged that the CEO of the Ceta, Sonja Pilusa, entered into agreements with a previous regional manager, George Peta, who had been named in a forensic report for signing off on documents he was not authorised to sign. Peta’s company Canton Trading 273 has contracts with the Ceta, worth an estimated R60 million.

A 2011 report on a forensic investigation into the Ceta’s finances states that Peta and two others submitted reports for a project that was never applied for or implemented.

The report also states that Peta, who left the authority in 2012, signed a service level agreement and approved invoices but he did not have the authority to do so.

Ceta spokesperson Jabulane Jiyane said there was nothing wrong with Canton doing business with the authority.

“Peta was cited in the forensic report as an employee of Ceta [at the time] and was not implicated in any wrongdoing whatsoever.

“Peta resigned from the Ceta on September 23 2012 (he was not relieved of his duties). There were never any disciplinary findings against him,” said Jiyane.

City Press requested comment from Peta regarding his involvement with the education and training authority. He requested questions to be emailed to him, but yesterday told City Press that he would respond if he was “able or interested”.

Whistle-blowers also alleged that visits to Canton’s training sites revealed that less than half of the learners were being trained. Other learners who were enrolled for training were not attending classes as their allowances had not been paid.

Ceta denied these allegations and said it would not pay any service provider without the required learner information, which includes a copy of their ID, proof of residence and highest qualification.

“At the commencement of each funded project, the Ceta requires all learner information to be submitted. The Ceta has received all the required information from funded entities, including Canton, in relation to funded projects currently running,” said Jiyane.

Higher education spokesperson Khaye Nkwanyana said: “We are taking them [allegations] seriously and the director general is in the process of appointing a team to investigate this. The Ceta is cooperating and we will communicate the findings once the investigation has been completed.”

Whistle-blowers said they were afraid to be identified because the CEO wanted to rid the Ceta of everyone “leaking information”.

“We know that she has her suspicions and she has already started suspending people. Every move is being watched,” said one.

Jiyane confirmed that an employee had recently been suspended, pending an investigation. “The suspension is unrelated to the spreading of allegations against the CEO.”

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