Minister of Higher Education and Training responds to the DA’s opportunistic posture on the Construction SETA allegations
10 July 2015
The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande finds it extremely opportunistic and frivolous that the Democratic Alliance (DA) is running media stories, including, but not limited to The Citizen of 9 July 2015, with the headline “Nzimande’s inaction deepens crisis at CETA”.
The Minister wishes to place on record that the Department works within the confines of the law and is committed to ensuring that every allegation of corruption and/or mismanagement of public funds is thoroughly investigated without fail, as he has done so in the past and will continue doing so in future, without any suspicious influence. The interest of the DA in this matter leaves much to be desired. Firstly, it wanted the Minister to place the CETA under administration without any due regard to legal requirements.
The Department has already acted on the allegations that have been made against the CETA by appointing an independent forensic team which has commenced investigating these allegations. We will not act on the basis of cheap politics and propaganda of a racist party, but in terms of due process.
The Minister cannot be calling press conferences to announce progress on procurement processes and stages of investigation, as these matters are dealt with in accordance with due processes.
The DA should know better that the Public Finance Management Act and National Treasury Regulations must be complied with, and that the Minister cannot and will not allow the Department to “flout” supply chain management processes, as the DA has done in the City of Cape Town, in the case of JK Structures CC, where the Court reviewed and set aside the City of Cape Town’s tender processes or decision. Tomorrow it will be the same DA, which will run to the media and claim that the Department has not complied with the relevant legislations in appointing the Service Provider.
Statement issued by Khaye Nkwanyana, Ministry of Higher Education and Training, July 12 2015
