The Portfolio Committee on Police has demanded the immediate suspension of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) Council’s director and chief financial officer (CFO) following allegations of multi-million-rand irregularities in an Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) training programme.
The committee’s chairperson, Ian Cameron, revealed that an Auditor-General report found significant discrepancies, including claims that a large portion of the 7,000 intended trainees never received instruction, and that advanced payments for services and hardware were made without delivery.
Key Allegations:
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Ghost Training: Only an estimated 1,000 trainees may have received instruction, far below the targeted 7,000.
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Missing Funds: Between R144 million and R150 million remains unaccounted for.
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Undelivered Resources: Hardware meant for students was allegedly never procured.
PSIRA CEO Responds
PSIRA CEO Manabela Chauke acknowledged shortcomings but defended the authority’s corrective actions, including an internal forensic investigation and cooperation with the Auditor-General.
“Accountability means we must be transparent,” Chauke said, admitting “control breakdowns” but insisting training did occur. He disputed the scale of misallocation, stating the contested amount involved a service provider responsible for roughly R80 million.
Chauke declined to name the service provider, citing ongoing legal processes, but confirmed recovery efforts were underway for undelivered services.
Youth Unemployment Concerns
The programme, aimed at upskilling youth in end-user computing and election-related training, has drawn scrutiny amid South Africa’s unemployment crisis. Chauke claimed some trainees were later employed, though verification remains incomplete.
Committee’s Stance
The committee maintains that suspensions must precede further investigation to ensure accountability. Cameron emphasized the severity of mismanagement involving public funds meant for vulnerable job seekers.
As the fallout continues, PSIRA faces mounting pressure to prove compliance while the implicated officials await their fate.