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More than R637 million allocated for youth skills development in South Africa cannot be accounted for, according to Auditor-General findings cited by the Democratic Alliance (DA) on 22 March 2026.
The funds were distributed through the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA) for bursaries, internships and work-integrated learning programmes.
What happened
According to the DA, the Auditor-General found that R637.6 million in discretionary grant spending could not be substantiated due to missing records.
This means auditors were unable to verify how the funds were used.
The funding was intended to support:
- Bursaries
- Internships
- Skills development programmes
The DA said the lack of documentation points to serious governance and financial control failures.
Official response
The DA said it has written to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training to request that ETDP SETA leadership appear before Parliament.
The party is calling for:
- A full explanation of the missing records
- Accountability from officials and the board
- Steps to recover funds if irregularities are confirmed
No official response from ETDP SETA or the Department of Higher Education and Training was included in the statement.
Why it matters
The funds were meant to support young South Africans through education and job training opportunities.
If not properly accounted for, this may affect:
- Access to bursaries
- Internship opportunities
- Skills development programmes
What you need to know
- R637.6 million in SETA grant spending could not be verified
- Findings come from the Auditor-General, cited by the DA
- Funds were meant for youth training and education programmes
- Parliament may be asked to intervene
What to do next
Students and job seekers relying on SETA programmes should:
- Follow official updates from training providers
- Monitor announcements from the Department of Higher Education and Training
- Keep records of applications and funding communication
