Despite being recognised as one of the better managed SETAs, TETA finds itself up the proverbial creek right now without R250m it invested with Fidentia, the financial services company on the brink of liquidation due to an unaccounted for R680m. With 1% of transport company payroll going to TETA to ensure a steady flow of required skills to the road freight industry, this unfortunate loss of funds must be of some concern to all transport companies and here, two leading trucking operations respond to questions regarding the matter.

TETA’S Dr. Johan Bothma ... can TETA rise to the challenge and deliver the goods?

FleetWatch: What are your comments on TETA's involvement with Fidentia? 

Sakkie Liebenberg, ceo, Liebentrans: Clearly a very sinister move to have invested such a vast amount into an unknown investment company. One can only wonder about the dealings behind the scenes.

Charlene Vernooy, Anderson Transport: If the main aim of the SETAs was to spend the levy money on training within the sector, and the DoL was doing audits to ensure the money was being spent, why were TETA investing the money anyway? Who was supposed to benefit from the return on the investment? 

FW: Is TETA serving your operation's skills needs adequately? 

Sakkie Liebenberg: No! It is quite a difficult process to claim anything and even then there is more often than not, a reason for not approving claims.

Charlene Vernooy: No! TETA may be one of the better managed SETAs based on academic audit requirements. But on the ground it isn't delivering to its stakeholders. We were under the impression that we were the customers of the SETAs, but with TETA it appears as if they are doing us a favour by existing. The criteria laid down often seem to be for their convenience more than attempting to address the skills crisis in the sector.

FW: How easy is it for your company to access accredited training institutions [in order to claim proper skills and skills levy rebates]?

Sakkie Liebenberg: Extremely difficult because of poor communication between TETA and its stakeholders.

Charlene Vernooy: It is easy enough finding accredited training providers, but these are not always properly monitored and verified by TETA ETQA 

FW: Has your company taken on any 'learnership' cadets? 

Sakkie Liebenberg: Yes.

Charlene Vernooy: Yes. We have signed agreements, but are still doubtful as to whether we will ever be paid.

FW: How easy/difficult is it to navigate the skills levy refund process and has your company actually received a rebate thus far? 

Sakkie Liebenberg: It is extremely difficult due to poor communication once again. At a previous seminar (SDF forum) held on the 14th of November 2006 and attended by two of our employees, we asked Tuelo Mogashoa (TETA chairperson) to send our company instructions on how to claim and complete necessary documentation. Thus far, we have not received any feedback.

Charlene Vernooy: This is the biggest hurdle to climb. We have complied with all the requirements and criteria specified by TETA to claim back discretionary grants from a programme run in 2003. We still have not received a cent for this training. We have sent and resent the documents on several occasions, we have sent threatening letters and emails to the chamber and we have had a personal verification meeting with the TETA Advisor from our region (who signed off all the documentation and dispatched it himself) but still no joy.

FW: Should TETA be scrapped and replaced with an updated 'apprenticeship' training system? 

Sakkie Liebenberg: TETA should be scrapped. The same and better results can be achieved by a company tax rebate system.

Charlene Vernooy: By implementing the old apprenticeship system we will not necessarily improve the service delivery from TETA. It might ensure that the quality of training could be re-established. TETA needs to be held more accountable for the responsibilities they were tasked with under the Skills Development Act. Why doesn't TETA staff get paid a commission based on their performance relating to the disbursement of funds? This might get them to start doing their job.

FW: Are there any other issues regarding skills development you would like to mention? 

Sakkie Liebenberg: What is happening to all unallocated funds that accumulated over the last few years? The shortage of skilled drivers is a major concern. Obviously the system isn't working.

Charlene Vernooy: They were all covered above

	Training learners is not a cheap exercise and transport companies besides paying the !% of payroll levy towards skills development have to consider other 'hidden' costs of Learnerships, like Workmens Compensation, for example.