Parliament, Thursday, 27 March 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has raised serious concerns about Goldfields Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College’s persistent financial mismanagement, after the institution received a qualified audit opinion for the fourth consecutive year. The committee met yesterday with Goldfields college and the Free State Community Education and Training Centre (CET) at its Tosa Campus in Welkom.
The committee noted that despite outsourcing its annual financial statements, the college has failed to address critical deficiencies, with senior management not adhering to financial controls. The committee warned that without strict monitoring of the audit action plan, the college risks further financial instability. Furthermore, a point of contention was the outdated curriculum being taught at Goldfields, with no clear timeline on when the curriculum will be updated.
The committee Chairperson, Mr Tebogo Letsie, said, “Once again we are subjecting our students to graduate with obsolete qualifications, undermining their employability and the college’s inability to meet South Africa’s economic needs.”
The committee also slammed Goldfields for failing to prioritise student needs, particularly in accommodation and safety. With no suitable student housing in Welkom, learners are forced into private accommodation providers, exposing them to security and gender-based violence risks.
In contrast, committee members commended the Free State CET College for exceeding its 2025 enrolment targets by over 6 000 students and achieving a clean audit for 2023 financial year.
The college was commended for being the first South African CET to build a community learning centre through a partnership with Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA).
The committee urged institutions struggling to attract students to adopt the Free State CET’s successful enrolment strategies and its ability to forge strong, long lasting sector partnerships.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, MR TEBOGO LETSIE.
For media enquiries please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Jabulani Majozi (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 083 358 5224
E-mail: jamajozi@parliament.gov.za
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