The Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala-linked Buena Vista Learning Academy was granted accreditation by the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) despite critical inspections not being done, an investigation into a massive bribery for accreditation scheme has revealed.

The explosive investigation, relying on a confession and plea bargain by one of four implicated officials, has exposed a culture of “malfeasance, bribery, and systemic failure” within the authority’s Education and Training Quality Assurance (ETQA) Unit.

“When we conducted accreditation for the infamous Buena Vista Academy, we did that without seeing mock-up structures for practicals,” the informant told the Ceta in a plea agreement statement seen by the Sunday Times.

“These (sic) gross misconduct and fraudulent charges that we are facing highlight the tip of the iceberg, and could not have happened if the process owner was vigilant.

“So letters are issued against reports that reflect missing and expired documents,” they added.

Buena Vista drew public scrutiny after it was revealed at the Madlanga commission of inquiry that it was paid R3.7m for a skills development programme despite numerous red flags.

This included no proper skills development accreditation, submission of fraudulent documentation, falsified financial histories and an invalid VAT status, as well as that it operated as a tshisanyama and was taken over by new owner Tsakane Matlala 10 days before the advert for the training closed.

Tsakane...

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