The agreement further states that taking the ‘legal route’ to resolve differences between the Minister and the Seta’s is a hindrance to progress. South Africa has 21 Setas funded by 1% of the payrolls of companies with profits of over R500 000. They provide postschool skills training.

Nzimande wants Setas to have one standard constitution, reduce the size of their boards and 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 African National Congress 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.