Members of the Built Environment Professions (BEPs) have voiced their concerns about the alleged misappropriation of funds and issuing of fake certificates by the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA).

It is alleged that this has resulted in no training being provided by the CETA for and effectively subverting the transformation objectives of the country.

In an open letter to the Minister of Higher Education and Training by whistle blowers who are CETA employees, it is alleged that about R400 million has been lost to corruption and maladministration through the irregular award of tenders to service providers by the CETA CEO.

It is alleged that R60 million was paid to a training service provider, which had irregularly issued certificates to untrained and unmoderated learners.

While the BEPs commend the Ministry for instituting an investigation, they are perturbed that the CEO has not been suspended while under investigation.

This begs the question whether the environment within which the investigation is taking place is conducive for whistle blowers to submit and present evidence without fear or intimidation and victimisation.

Identifying irregularities

The BEPs representative, who sits on the Board of the CETA’s Accounting Authority (AA), indicated that the Court application was irregular and had never been discussed or authorised by the CETA AA.

Subsequent to that, he wrote a letter to the CETA AA, expressing his outrage at the court application, as well as the affidavit he submitted to the South African Police, both of which bear testimony to the unethical conduct of individuals within the CETA AA.

The BEPs have expressed a vote of no confidence in the administration and governance of the CETA, and call for the immediate removal of the chairperson of the CETA and the CEO among others.