Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande on Monday reached an agreement with members of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Seta) forum to support his proposed transformation of the Seta landscape and to distance themselves from the ongoing case between the Minister and the Services Seta.

The forum confirmed in a declaration that it supported the Minister’s new vision, and that it would cooperate with Nzimande on all transformation matters, including that of the proposed changes to the Seta environment.

It further read that taking the ‘legal route’ to resolve differences between the Minister and the Seta’s was a hindrance to progress.

South Africa has 21 Setas funded by 1% of the payrolls of companies with an annual payroll of over R500 000. They provide post-school skills training.

Nzimande wants Setas to have one standard constitution, reduce the size of their boards, for him to participate in the selection of board members and to include two ministerial appointees to the boards.

Nzimande has been embroiled in a spat with Services Seta CEO Dr Ivor Blumenthal after he took the Minister on over a lack of consultation on the proposed ‘model’ constitution for the Seta, as well as the appointment of ANC office bearer Sihle Moon and took the matter to Labour Court.

A Labour Court Judge ruled earlier this month that Nzimande did not have the legal power to impose a new constitution on the Services Seta, and that the constitution he had tried to impose was in breach of the Skills Development Act.

The Court also ruled that Moon’s appointment as the Seta's chairperson was invalid, as well as Nzimande’s appointment of a new council, one of whose members was Nolwande Mantashe, wife of ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe.

Seta forum chairperson Joel Dikgole said that the forum would support the appointment of chairpersons as proposed by the Minister.