Court Blocks Minister's Plan to Re-Advertise Top Skills Fund Job
News Summary
A Labour Court judge has stopped Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela from re-advertising the job of Chief Executive Officer at the National Skills Fund. The court said the minister did not have the power to cancel the hiring process that already picked Dr Innocent Sirovha as the best candidate.
Originally reported by Daily Maverick.
Why It Matters
The National Skills Fund (NSF) is the government body that pays for many skills programmes, learnerships and training courses for young South Africans. It helps people who cannot afford to study, especially those from poor rural areas. But the fund has not had a full-time CEO since around 2020. That means no clear leader, slow decisions, and delays in paying learners their stipends.
Why a missing leader affects jobs
When an important public body has no permanent boss, things move slowly. Training providers wait longer to be paid. Learners wait longer for their monthly stipends. Some learners have even been chased away from where they were staying because the money did not come. When training stops or is delayed, young people lose the skills and certificates they need to find work.
What the court case is really about
Dr Sirovha was chosen as the top candidate in May 2025 after a long hiring process. The minister then told the department to start the hiring process again. The judge said this was not allowed, because the law gives the power to appoint the CEO to the Director-General, not the minister.
- Clear leadership matters: A permanent CEO brings accountability and faster decisions.
- Skills funding matters: The NSF pays for learnerships, bursaries and training that help people get jobs.
- The fight is not over: The case now goes to a second part, where the court will decide the final outcome.
- Training must keep going: Delays in funding hurt learners who are trying to build a better future.
For job seekers, the big lesson is simple: skills training and funding are the door to work. When public bodies are unstable, that door can close a little. So it is smart to keep your own records, apply early, and follow up on every learnership or training you join.
Skills In Demand
From Live Job DatabaseCareer Tip
"If you are waiting for a learnership, stipend or training payment, always keep your own proof of everything. Save your acceptance letter, your attendance register, your bank payment slips and the name and number of your contact person. Then, if there is a delay, you can show proof quickly and ask for help from the training provider or the SETA. Also, apply to more than one programme at a time so a single delay does not stop your progress."
