ASSOCIATIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
MBSA raises concerns as
CETA is placed under administration
The country’s body of construction contractors Master Builders South Africa (MBSA), has called for an
urgent meeting with the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology to provide clarity on the
standing of thousands of learners who are in training programmes supported by the CETA.
T
COLD LINK AFRICA •
March/April 2020
construction industry remains one of the
largest employers in the country. However,
the lack of qualified and experienced
workers has been cited as one of the
biggest threats facing the industry. To
improve delivery of skills programmes in
the country, Minister Nzimande made an
undertaking to implement a Contract
Management System to keep track
of the flow of funds, so that financial
management becomes more transparent
within the Department. He also indicated
he Construction Education and
Training Authority was placed under
administration by Minister Nzimande
at the end of January 2020, to facilitate
an investigation into allegations of
financial mismanagement and
maladministration.
“We have thousands of learners placed
with building contractors on learnerships,
apprenticeships and candidacy
programmes and the immediate concern
is to ensure that the placing of the CETA
under administration does not result in
unintended consequences for these
programmes and for skills development
in the construction sector,” says MBSA
President, John Matthews.
Matthews confirmed that MBSA was
aware of ongoing challenges at the
CETA, which were causing significant
delays in payments of training grants,
bursaries and stipends to employers
and learners. At just below 10% of the
total labour force of the country, the
The MBSA is aware of ongoing challenges at the CETA, which were causing significant delays
in payments.
that there would be consequences for
individuals who fail to comply.
“As an industry body, maintaining a
steady supply of the required building
skills for the country is at the core of what
we do for our members, and we remain
committed to working with the Minister
to ensure that the CETA is more effective
and delivers the skills needs of the industry.
We also support any action aimed at
entrenching good corporate governance
and better performance, but we are
concerned that this development may
jeopardise current skills programmes and
those that are planned for the near future”
says Matthews.
Industry veterans and Associations
like SARACCA have expressed that the
news could have a knock on effect to the
Manufacturing, Engineering and Related
Services Sector Education and Training
Authority (merSETA) which is the seta for
the HVAC&R industry if the Minister feels
they are not up to scratch. CLA
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