The board of directors at the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) are accused of failing to get a grip on the institution, which was recently placed under administration due to financial mismanagement.
Reliable sources at the training authority told Sunday World that the board seems to have mismanaged their handling of Ceta’s suspended supply chain head, Tumiso Mphuthi, who is facing charges of misconduct.
At the heart of the recent storm that hit the training authority is the duel between members of the Ceta board, who accused Mphuthi of leaking a confidential document that she had submitted to the board.
Ceta board chairman, Thabo Masombuka, told Sunday World that Mphuti had misrepresented her qualifications that landed her a R2-million per annum salary and the role of supply chain management head.
Supply chain head accused of playing victim
He further accused her of playing victim and posing as a whistleblower, rather than face the charges against her.
Masombuka said his board was in the process of engaging the newly appointed Minister of Higher Education, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane. They are sending her an explanation of the board’s position on the simmering scandal.
“The ministry … has already demanded a response from the board. Industry, which is made up of industry bodies, have already written to the board. They ask for clarity on what’s the position in handling this matter.
“As you would appreciate, we may be careful in venturing into the detail of some of the questions you raised. Precisely because we want those to be the subject of an investigation that is properly constituted,” said Masombuka.
The board chairman then unleashed a scorching attack against Mphuti. He accused her of essentially running a smear campaign against the Ceta board of directors and its CEO.
“What we have seen in the last two weeks is a perpetual narrative that seeks to portray Mphuti as a victim. It seeks to portray Mphuti as a whistleblower and an innocent party. When in fact, your version digs deeper into who Mphuti is.
“This is the same Mphuti, by the way, who fraudulently got hired way before we all arrived. So these things predate us as a board,” said Masombuka.
He added: “But we are thankful for this. Because for the first time it is going to shed light on exactly what is the proper context of this story.
“We have not heard a version that says, ‘hold on, how did Mphuti arrive at this information, how did she get to Ceta, what are the charges that she is facing in her disciplinary hearing?’ ”
Flagged in an audit
Mphuthi was flagged in an audit two years ago for only possessing a level 4 qualification. This under the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). She was holding a position that required someone with a degree or postgraduate degree at level 7 or 8.
Mphuthi has hit back at the board, accusing its chairman and its membersof failing the organisation. She claimed they were “crucifying” her for doing her job.
“There was a skills audit that was done. And I was sent back to my position because of the value I added to the organisation. I am currently completing a four-year degree that will then align my experience with my qualifications,” said Mphuthi.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation blamed the board members. They said board members were “out of touch” with the organisation. Some are calling on Nkabane to dissolve the board for its “lack of leadership and direction”.
Board accused of inefficiency
“The board is divided on how to deal with Mphuti’s matter. Not only that. They are divided and indecisive on almost every important matter that needs their attention,” said an insider.
“The new minister needs to look into the board and how it has dealt with Mphuthi’s matter. Because she holds a crucial position in Ceta and the allegations against her are very serious. It’s only fair to her and the organisation to finalise these,” said another source.
Mphuti said she didn’t understand why Masombuka and his board were treating her the way they were.
“I feel like what they are doing is not fair. In my view, I feel like the board doesn’t have the interests of Ceta at heart. That’s how I feel. There are a lot of issues at the Ceta that they are not dealing with.
“I feel like they are running away from their responsibility and running away from the issues. Now they want to make me a scapegoat. I am not, I am being crucified. And my sin was to report matters to the board,” she said.
Corruption is so imbedded at CETA that board is corrupt , staff members, service providers. Let the forensic reports that was done 3 years ago be shared with the public but certain things were removed to save lots of people.