CETA to pay all outstanding invoices

CETA Discretionary Grant Policy states that invoices will be paid in 30 days as per the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). Most service providers will agree that this is yet to be realised. At the CETA exco meeting of 19 August 2010, CETA management was instructed to pay all outstanding invoices within seven days from 23 August. If you have outstanding invoices, contact CETA with proof thereof.

The Following is a copy of the Communication from CETA in this regard:

23rd August 2010

Dear Service Providers and Stakeholders

RE: PAYMENT OF OUTSTANDING INVOICES AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

The Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) entered into various contractual funding / service level agreements with service providers and stakeholders to deliver on learning programmes. In delivering these projects, CETA carried the responsibility of facilitating the training and funding of such programmes.

This included paying all service providers timeously and according to the CETA funding model and discretionary grant policy upon completion of certain milestones.

In line with the discretionary grant policy, CETA is obliged to effect payment to its service providers as prescribed in the Public Finance Management Act within 30 days after invoice submission and this was communicated to all beneficiaries of CETA’s discretionary grant projects. This commitment did not happen as directed due to a number of reasons amongst which are CETA’s internal procedural challenges and in some instances, non-compliance issues by Service Providers.

In light of the above, CETA’s Executive Committee meeting held on 19th August 2010 have” resolved and instructed the Management of CETA” to: “as a matter of urgency resolve all outstanding contractual disputes and pay all outstanding invoices without fail and to ensure that payment is effected within 7 (seven) days from the date of this communiqué”.

Furthermore, CETA hereby would like to profusely apologise for the inconvenience caused by the delays in payment, especially in instances where some of the employers were not paid on time according to the CETA’s payment directive.

Kindly note that CETA has set up clear mechanisms to address the aforegoing challenges and willmonitor the progress in future to avoid the same from recurring.

Notwithstanding CETA’s commitment that all future invoices must be paid within 30 days after having been received, it is however requested that all invoices submitted, must comply with all criteria and agreed requirements. In cases where a delay is anticipated, the CETA will communicate with the relevant Service Providers to resolve the matter.

Should you require further clarity or responses to your outstanding invoices, do not hesitate to contact the CEO or CETA management and direct your queries to them.

We hope the above intervention will further restore your much appreciated and valued trust and confidence in CETA to deliver service excellence to its stakeholders.

May I take this opportunity to thank you for your custom in anticipation.

Yours Faithfully

Mr. Frank Fredericks
CETA CHAIRPERSON

Victor Smith | Training Manager