Auditor-General refers PSiRA's R129m UIF training scheme to SIU after only 118 of 6,507 learners accredited

The Auditor-General has referred PSiRA's R129 million Unemployment Insurance Fund-linked training scheme to the Special Investigating Unit for recovery of irregularly spent funds, Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police said on 3 November 2025 after scrutinising the 2024/25 annual reports.

Only 118 of the 6,507 learners enrolled in the youth training programme were accredited. PSiRA performed no due diligence before awarding the contract, and the appointed service provider proved incapable of delivering the training outcomes.

The committee found no sufficient safeguards had been implemented since 2019 to prevent similar irregularities, and noted PSiRA's Supply Chain Management Manager position had been vacant for over two years. The Auditor-General flagged a persistent lack of improvement in PSiRA's audit outcomes despite years of recommendations.

In early June 2025, the same committee had recommended the suspension of PSiRA's Director and CFO over the scheme, including an advance payment of over R30 million made before work commenced.

"It is unacceptable that even after the authority has admitted that no due diligence was performed for the awarding of the contract, nothing tangible and no practical interventions have been made," said committee chairperson Ian Cameron.

Source: Parliament of South Africa, 3 November 2025 - parliament.gov.za (also: insidepolitic.co.za)