Teta's missing millions - a tale of apathy and ignorance

A sum of R151.7 million is still outstanding of the original R200.3m that was ‘invested’ by the Transport Education and Training Authority (Teta) in Fidentia over six years ago. What is Teta doing to recover the more than R150m still outstanding from the Fidentia saga – widely regarded as one of the biggest corporate scandals in SA? Despite extensive efforts to get an update from the authority on its hopes for further repayments, little has been forthcoming – apart from the fact that the sum of R151.7 million seems to be still outstanding. FTW asked Sabelo Mbuku, Teta spokesman: Has no more been received since last May? Is any more expected? But his reply was thin. “We have not received any updates yet to that effect,” he said. “Perhaps after closing of the books with auditors at the end of July 2014 we will receive an update.” But the industry is anything but happy about these missing millions, which are, after all, garnered from companies in the freight industry – and based on a proportion of their turnover. This was a loss which nearly hamstrung Teta’s ability to refund companies with their outlays on officially approved employee training courses. Also, these missing funds could have contributed immensely to skills development in the country, given the current shortage of skills and training, according to a senior member of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, which questioned Teta CE, Maphefo Anno- Frempong, in parliament last year seeking the same answer that FTW is currently looking for. What are Teta’s plans to retrieve these public funds? The answer, according to the spokesman, would seem to be little more than Teta waiting to see what other repayments will transpire. And it can hardly be said that the authority has fulfilled what parliament asked it to do. That is, to prepare and report on its plans for a quest to recoup the funds.