FAKE ’ COURSE RULES OUT 60 FIREFIGHTERS

Lgseta is set for turnaround

ABOUT 60 students who have the Local Government Sector Education Training Authority’s qualification in firefighting are in limbo over whether the course is authentic.

The students were trained by Lo Tantsi Consultants in Kempton Park and Vhutshilo Health and Training Academy in Johannesburg.

The two institutions say their students were told by some municipalities that the LGSeta qualification is not recognised.

Lo Tantsi owner Lulama Tantsi says the confusion has affected students.

Municipalities, including Ekurhuleni and the City of Johannesburg, preferred the Southern African Emergency Services Institute (Saesi) qualification.

“Students were turned away on the basis of the authentication of the qualification, which affects the credibility of the academy,” he says.

Conrad Netshaulu, of Vhutshilo Health and Training Academy, said both colleges had tried to have a meeting with LGSeta’s Education and Training Quality Assurer manager Valencia Mashego without success.

“We wanted to have a meeting to map a way forward on the issue. Instead, she refused. I don’t think Saesi is bigger than her and the government, ” Netshaulu says.

“We don’t force them to hire our students, but they must be given a fair chance. Turning them away before even going through fitness tests and interviews is discrimination. ”

Lo Tantsi student Mbuso Mchunu says: “I applied for a job and I was told that they only want Saesi qualifications not LGSeta. At the moment I am sitting at home and cannot get a job.”

Former Vhutshilo student Glen Hlatshwayo says: “We applied for posts that were advertised by Joburg City emergency services and they said the qualification was a fake. I was confused and in my mind I thought this was a bogus college.”

Another frustrated student, Brian Nosilela, says they were sent home before they could prove themselves. “They didn’t want to listen to us or contact the school principal.” THE Gauteng Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority, which is part of the Services Sector Education and Training Authority, has been under administration since March.

Nqabekaya Nqandela was appointed administrator, and has taken over the running of the organisation.

He told Sowetan that his mandate was to effect a turnaround strategy, and to correct the governance and management failures that had led to the current situation.

“The Seta received a disclaimer in the annual report 2011/2012, and there was no demonstrable plan or ability to turn things around, and a similar outcome was likely, had the institution not been placed under administration.”

Nqandela said the turnaround strategy included building capacity within the organisation.