Energy authority fights back
06/06/2008 08:48  - (SA)  

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Johannesburg - The Energy Sector Education Training Authority (Eseta) has called corruption allegations levelled against it as "ludicrous", board chairperson Johnny Oliver said on Thursday.

"They are completely inflammatory."

Oliver's comments follow allegations by the National Union of Metalworkers (Numsa) of "shocking" corruption charges against Eseta officials over alleged siphoning of millions of rands.

In a statement on Thursday, Numsa said it had lodged a "bombshell" indictment against senior officials for allegedly pillaging millions of rands meant for skills training.

It said Eseta board chairperson Johnny Oliver had announced his resignation with immediate effect after a forensic audit investigation into the damning fraud and mismanagement allegations had been launched.

"Numsa is aware of the resignation letter and gladly accepted it."

Oliver said he did tender his "very emotional" resignation on May 29, however withdrew this after he was unanimously requested to by the board.

"In my letter [of resignation] I refused to go to Scopa [Standing Committee on Public Accounts], but I went [on Wednesday] and was congratulated for an excellent presentation."

Oliver said he had initiated the forensic audit.

"If I were corrupt would I instigate an audit?"

The union said the authority's chief executive officer had also summarily been placed on suspension pending the outcome of the investigation into alleged fraud.

"Over the past two years several complaints of conflicting interests among some Seta board members have been streaming in, including inferior training offered by a major service provider, which was favoured by board members said to be attached to the company."

Numsa claimed it could reveal that it recently interrupted an inflated R11m claim by the errant training providers which had been "improperly" approved by the same training authority.

Oliver said Eseta had consulted its lawyers and letters had been sent to the individuals responsible for the inflammatory allegations.

"The fight between Numsa and Eseta has been going on for a long time," Oliver said.

- Sapa

- SAPA

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