the DA National Spokesperson, Karabo Khakhau has.reported a criminal case against the Ceta administrator Oupa Nkoane
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
The Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) has committed to cooperating with any investigation into the controversial salary increase of the administrator Oupa Nkoane.
A criminal case relating to the alleged fraudulent approval of his annual salary package was opened with the police yesterday by DA MP Karabo Khakhau.
Khakhau said that it contravened sections of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
Nkoane allegedly determined and approved his own R3 million annual salary package, exceeding the R2.4 million initially offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training.
Higher Education and Training Minister Bhuti Manamela later approved a R2.5 million pay package in January, but Parliament’s portfolio committee heard last week that Nkoane had already received payments at the higher rate in December.
Ceta spokesperson Jabulani Jiyane said Nkoane would cooperate with any investigation.
Jiyane referred to a statement issued by Nkoane on Monday in which he described the allegations as “unfortunate and misinformed”.
“The Administrator’s salary issue was not handled in an irregular manner at all, but the best entity to address the issue is the Department of Higher Education,” the statement read.
“Moreover, some of these allegations are subject to investigation and other legal processes. Parliament has requested further clarity on some of these matters, and CETA will respond directly to Parliament. While CETA would like to put these matters to rest, the pending processes constrain what CETA can state publicly at this stage.”
A police spokesperson said the matter would be investigated.
Khakhau said Nkoane should be arrested.
“The PFMA is clear that no one has the authority or power to do that,” she said.
“This is also confirmation of what we have long argued … that SETAs are being used to steal money from the country that is meant for development, employment and economic growth.
“SETAs must be closed, and Nkoane has to be arrested.”
An offer of R2.5 million was made to Nkoane in October, but he did not accept it. Ceta later wrote to the Department of Higher Education and Training proposing an increase to the package.
Between October and March, Nkoane, who was appointed in August, was allegedly overpaid by R208,333.
A repayment plan has since been instituted to recover the overpayments, which Parliament’s portfolio committee said constituted irregular expenditure.