Abstract:
The establishment of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) was initially
seen as a lifeline for a country plagued by massive inequalities in income and skills
provision. The continuous supply of skilled professionals and core skills remain
the foundation for a competitive emerging economy and young democracy such
as South Africa. SETAs are established for a five year period and are aligned to the
financial year of government. The SETAs attracted much media attention as a result
of poor service delivery primarily attributed to poor corporate governance. Despite
the many positive contributions by SETAs, they remain the most criticised entities
in post-democratic South Africa. Corporate governance is important for managers
in organs of state (more specifi cally SETAs) policy makers in the field of public
administration and politicians. The board of a SETA is ultimately accountable for
the implementation of corporate governance. The article assesses the role of the
board, accounting offi cer and audit committee among others and the legislative
framework supporting the implementation of good governance. The analyses show
an unstable framework of operation in SETAs and this is further complicated by the
lack of skilled human resources specifi cally in financial management
