Ceta bursary delays put students’ studies at risk, MPs warn
Letsie said Setas had a critical role to play in developing skills and addressing South Africa's unemployment crisis.
The Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) has faced scrutiny from Parliament following delays in awarding bursaries, which have put students' studies at risk, according to MPs. The portfolio committee on higher education and training expressed concerns that Ceta's failure to provide timely funding disrupted students' academic progress and jeopardized their chances of completing their qualifications.
Both Ceta and the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) delivered their 2025-26 annual reports to the committee on Thursday, with MPs warning that the bursary delays had significant consequences. Committee members argued that delayed funding could not compensate for lost academic time, interrupted studies, and the financial hardship experienced by affected students.
Ceta was found to have overspent by approximately R914 million against an expenditure of R1.25 billion, and the committee noted irregular expenditure of R956 million accumulated from previous years, as well as R44 million in wasteful expenditure. Furthermore, the committee raised concerns about a material irregularity involving a biometric attendance and stipend-payment system that was not fully operationalized.
The bursary delays were particularly detrimental for continuing students, whose studies could be interrupted without financial support, putting their academic progress and prospects at risk. Prospective students were also disadvantaged by the lack of funding within the relevant academic year. The committee highlighted a concerning trend among sector entities of failing to implement audit action plans issued by the Auditor-General of South Africa, and recommended that the Department of Higher Education and Training ensure compliance.
Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie emphasized that Ceta's lack of consequence management for wrongdoing was particularly worrying, as it took too long for the authority to settle matters and act on wrongdoing, even with evidence. Letsie also stressed Seta's critical role in addressing South Africa's unemployment crisis, stating that the skills development levies paid by employers should translate into meaningful training.
He urged the committee to look beyond mere compliance and focus on the Seta's ability to develop skills and address unemployment.
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