CEO's Extravagant Global Tour Sparks Outrage Amid CETA's Educational Mission

Controversy has erupted around Malusi Shezi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA), for his alleged misuse of funds as he embarks on a global tour with board members that stands in sharp contrast with the organization's skills development mandate.

CETA, established under the Skills Development Act of 1998, has the primary purpose of delivering skills development services to the construction industry, fulfilling the objectives of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS III), and ensuring the sector is both sustainable and competitive on a global stage. Taxpayers and industry stakeholders expect the authority to bridge educational and workplace gaps by researching skill needs, funding appropriate learning programmes, and linking training opportunities with workplace demands, ultimately improving the employability of South Africans.

However, Shezi's current priority appears to deviate from this mandated trajectory as he is set to lead an expensive 24-day international tour, covering Kenya, Egypt, the UK, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia. The journey's extravagant details reveal an intention to allocate a substantial R250,000 'pocket money' to each board member, drawing immediate condemnation and raising serious questions about governance and financial stewardship within the vital educational body.

This expensive endeavor raises significant red flags, questioning the justifiability of dedicating millions from the budget—ostensibly reserved for the development of scarce and critical skills within the construction industry—to overseas trips that may not directly contribute to the identified objectives of CETA.

The public outcry stems not only from the glaring discrepancy between CETA's mandate and the actions of its leadership but also from the perceived disregard for the principles of prudent financial management and transparency expected from an organization funded by South African taxpayers and industry contributions.

Given the significant skills gap within the South African construction sector, the focus for CETA leaders should be on optimizing educational resources and training opportunities to combat unemployment and inequity. This misuse of funds can potentially undermine the core objectives of the Skills Development Act, which aims to enhance skills, induce employer and worker participation in education, and improve the quality of workplace training.

In light of these events, calls for accountability and a refocused commitment to the authentic mandate of CETA are growing. This situation underscores the necessity for oversight bodies and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to carefully scrutinize SETA operations to ensure they fulfill their essential roles for the betterment of the economy and the skilled workforce.