Dear Mr. Sauls
I am unsure if you have read my previous letter, which I sent to the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education regarding ABET or the new Community Education Centre. The following is my new letter that I have sent.
To: The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training
Subject: Urgent Concern Regarding CET College Western Cape Failures and Lack of
Committee Response
Dear Committee Members,
I write to you again with deep concern regarding the unresolved issues I previously raised about the Western Cape Community Education and Training (CET) College. Despite my earlier submissions, I have not received adequate feedback or action from the Portfolio Committee, which raises serious concerns about the integrity of the Committee in upholding what is fair and just.
The situation on the ground is worsening. Community centres in the Breede River Winelands,
George, Bredasdorp, and Villiersdorp are facing closure because the principal of the Western
Cape CET College, Mr. Phumezo Zita, has failed to pay the leases of these day-operating
centres. Stop protecting Mr. Zita. We asked for assisting him in the previous letter but instead
the Deputy Principal Academics resigned. These centres are lifelines for our rural
communities, yet they are being shut down due to mismanagement and neglect.
The impact of these closures cannot be overstated:
 Hundreds of rural students stand to lose their only chance at completing their
education.
 Staff members, myself included, are left in fear of losing our jobs and livelihoods.
 The college, instead of being a beacon of hope, is now becoming a symbol of despair
for the very communities it was mandated to uplift.
 Our National exams is started on the 3 November 2025 for the GETC qualification
and we are being close down.
I must stress that this is not only an operational crisis but also a moral one. The Committee’s mandate is to oversee and hold institutions accountable. By not acting decisively on these issues, the Committee risks undermining public confidence in its ability to safeguard the principles of equity and fairness in education.
I, Gamiel Wentzel, urgently appeal for the Portfolio Committee to intervene, to investigate why leases are not being honoured, and to ensure that the CET College in the Western Cape fulfils its obligations to both staff and students. Immediate intervention is needed to prevent further closures, protect jobs, and restore access to education for rural learners who have no alternatives.
I trust the Committee will act swiftly, as the lives and futures of hundreds of students, along with the integrity of the CET system, hang in the balance.
Sincerely,
Gamiel Wentzel