Karabo Khakhau of the DA (Photo: DA / Facebook)
The DA has filed criminal charges against Oupa Nkoane, administrator of the construction Seta (Ceta), over the alleged fraudulent approval of his own annual salary package of R3 million.
Karabo Khakhau, DA MP and the party’s deputy spokesperson for higher education and training, says Nkoane’s salary was significantly higher than the R500 000 that Buti Manamela, minister of higher education and training, apparently prescribed for the package.
“The DA fights to protect public money from looting. Our complaint points to serious management failures.”
Nkoane, when confronted about the matter in parliament’s portfolio committee on higher education, admitted the salary increase and referred to his own financial reasons.
The DA says it has handed over video footage of the meeting, as well as the official record of the committee, to the police for investigation.
The party believes Nkoane has breached the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA). The complaint relates to art. 86(2), read together with various provisions of s. 50 and 51 of this act.
“The DA’s criminal complaint alleges that Mr. Nkoane intentionally and grossly negligently violated the PFMA for personal gain.”
According to the DA, Manamela only set aside Ceta and Nkoane’s decision in January 2026 and approved a salary package of R2.5 million. The party says Nkoane consequently received a transfer of R208 333 from October 2025 to March 2026.
“These are concrete grounds for an investigation by the South African Police Service,” adds Khakhau.
According to the DA, a case has already been opened by the police and an investigating officer will now be appointed.
“We demand a full criminal investigation and urgent action to recover any lost public money.”
Nkoane was appointed by Manamela as an administrator to fix problems at Ceta. Khakhau says the DA has already warned against his appointment.
“Nkoane was appointed by the minister of higher education solely to fix what was wrong at Ceta. Instead, he brought more problems. The DA warned against his appointment and maintains that he was the wrong choice for the job.”
Khakhau says the latest development reinforces the DA’s position that sectoral education and training authorities (Setas) should be scrapped.
“This scandal can be added to a long list of reasons why Setas should be scrapped. Setas were designed as profitable loot funds for ANC cadres, rather than promoting tangible skills development and job creation for the country’s youth.”