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Eyewitness News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Parly committee concerned about being misled by Nkabane on SETA board selection panel
CAPE TOWN - The portfolio committee on higher education has expressed concern that it was misled by Minister Nobuhle Nkabane about the composition of the panel responsible for selecting Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board members. The committee now wants Nkabane to account before the committee and give further details about the panel that recommended the appointments of politically connected chairpersons of the SETA boards. The committee took the decision on Wednesday after Nkabane finally released the names of the panel she claimed was independent, despite including senior officials from her department. ALSO READ: • Parly committee urged to lodge criminal complaint against Nkabane over SETA board selection panel • DA refers Higher Education Minister Nkabane to ethics committee 'for lying to Parliament' Committee members said the panel members listed in a letter by the minister did not reflect the independence she initially claimed at the last meeting. Committee chairperson, Tebogo Letsie, said this raised serious questions about the transparency and integrity of the appointment process. He said committee members believed they were misled by previous representations and would seek advice on how to deal with Nkabane. "There's a process that must be followed. We must engage with legal on the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures Act where people mislead or lie to Parliament. There's a process that must be followed." Letsie said the committee was also alarmed by the revelation in the minister's letter that the purported chairperson of the panel did not attend any of its meetings, which raised further questions about who chaired the meeting and oversaw the selection of candidates for SETA boards.
Eyewitness News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Parly committee urged to lodge criminal complaint against Nkabane over SETA board selection panel
CAPE TOWN - Members of Parliament (MPs) have called on the higher education committee to lodge a criminal complaint against Minister Nobuhle Nkabane over her Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board selection panel. Members of the higher education portfolio committee want further action taken against Nkabane for misleading them in the SETA board selection process, despite her decision to release the names of the five-member "independent" panel after she initially refused. ALSO READ: - DA refers Higher Education Minister Nkabane to ethics committee 'for lying to Parliament' - Parliament finally receives names of Nkabane's panel to oversee selection of SETA board chairs - Ramaphosa has received Nkabane's report explaining her conduct in Parliament, confirms Presidency The SETA board chairperson selection process, which was restarted following an outcry, saw politically connected individuals appointed as board chairpersons. Members of the committee accused Nkabane of misleading them in her initial refusal to release the names of the panel that selected the board chairpersons in the now-abandoned process. Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Karabo Khakhau has called on Nkabane to release one more name that she left out of the list and also accused her of lying about the panel. "We've cited this, as a committee, before in the past, that it is a criminal offence for anybody to lie to Parliament and equally we would like to move that you, as the chairperson, must consider to go lay criminal charges on behalf of this committee." African National Congress (ANC) MP David Kgabo, questioned the independence of the panel, calling it an extension of the director-general (DG)'s office. "The minister and DG will have to explain their interpretation, and we plead with them to not send us to Google or an encyclopaedia. What would be their interpretation of an independent panel, because what you are seeing here is nothing independent but rather an extension of the administration office of the director-general." Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie said they would follow the process outlined in the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures Act on how to deal with people who mislead Parliament before a final decision was taken.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Parliament demands criminal probe into Minister Nkabane over SETA scandal
MPs want Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane to be probed for misleading Parliament and manipulating the selection process to benefit ANC allies into SETA board appointment saga Image: GCIS In a dramatic escalation of the SETA board appointment scandal, members of Parliament have called for a criminal investigation into Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, accusing her of misleading Parliament and manipulating the selection process to benefit politically connected allies. The portfolio committee has urged the committee leadership to formally complain in terms of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures Act. The move could pave the way for unprecedented legal action against Nkabane over a controversial board appointment process riddled with allegations of cronyism and political interference. At the heart of the storm is Nkabane's refusal—until recently—to reveal the names of the five-member panel responsible for selecting new SETA board chairpersons. Though she eventually disclosed most of the names under mounting pressure, MPs say she omitted a critical individual and accuse her of lying to Parliament about the panel's independence. Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Karabo Khakhau has reported Nkabane to the Ethics Committee for allegedly misleading Parliament over the independent panel that recommended the chairpersons. 'Affidavit signed and commissioned. Nkabane must appear before the Ethics Committee for lying to Parliament and, by extension, the people of RSA,' she said in a post on X. This is after Khakhau demanded full disclosure of the final names, accusing the minister of deliberately withholding it and misleading the committee. ANC MP, David Kgabo, added fuel to the fire, describing the so-called independent panel as effectively an extension of the director-general's office, raising serious questions about the integrity of the process. Committee chairperson, Tebogo Letsie, confirmed that the committee would pursue legal avenues in line with parliamentary rules governing dishonesty before the legislature. "We will not be complicit in attempts to undermine parliamentary oversight," he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading On Tuesday, Letsie welcomed the submission of a letter containing the names of panel members appointed to oversee the selection and recommendation of board chairpersons for SETA. The panel members, as stated by the minister, are: - Advocate Terry Motau (chair), though he did not attend the committee meetings. - Asisipho Solani. - Nelisiwe Semane. - Mabuza Ngubane. - Rhulani Ngwenya. This controversy follows a heated backlash in May when Nkabane's list of recommended appointees to the SETA boards included a series of politically connected figures—among them, Buyambo Mantashe, son of Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe; former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube; KwaZulu-Natal transport head Siboniso Mbhele; and ANC Johannesburg deputy regional secretary Loyiso Masuku. Despite repeated requests, Nkabane initially refused to reveal who selected these appointees, deepening suspicions of political patronage and triggering calls for transparency and accountability. The selection process has since been abandoned, but MPs insisted the damage to institutional credibility demands consequences. As Parliament weighs its next move, the scandal has thrust issues of transparency, political interference, and ministerial accountability back into the national spotlight, raising the stakes not just for Nkabane but for the integrity of South Africa's public institutions. IOL Politics
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
DA to report Nkabane to Ethics Committee for misleading Parliament
Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane is in hot water over the names of the independent panel that recommended chairpersons of SETA boards she disclosed to the Higher Education Portfolio Committee on Tuesday. Image: Archives The DA has threatened to report Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane to the Ethics Committee for allegedly misleading Parliament over the independent panel that recommended the chairpersons of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). This follows the much-anticipated disclosure on Tuesday when Nkabane finally revealed the names of the independent panel members to the Higher Education Portfolio Committee. Nkabane previously faced intense scrutiny for her alleged bias in selecting candidates for the SETA chairs, particularly those aligned with the ANC. During a recent heated session, she refused to disclose the identity of the panel members, only to promise to do so on compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Nkabane's spokesperson, Camagwini Mavovana, confirmed that she had disclosed the panel members. 'The minister stands ready to account to the portfolio committee and to respond to further requests for information in this regard,' Mavovana said. The disclosed panel members are Advocate Terry Motau, who reportedly did not attend any meetings, Asisipho Solani, Nelisiwe Semane, Mabuza Ngubane, and Rhulani Ngwenya. The DA has raised concerns about some of the panel members. DA MP Karabo Khakhau said Solani is the ministerial advisor to Nkabane, Semane, the chief of staff in her office, Ngubane, the chief director responsible for SETA coordination, and Ngwenya, the department's deputy director-general for corporate services. Khakhau also stated that Nkabane failed to reveal all names, as one panel member's name was concealed due to their discomfort with being disclosed. 'The minister also concealed two other names from the National Skills Authority Selection and Evaluation Panel, as well as one from the Universities Council Ministerial Appointments, and the Selection and Evaluation Panel for the Council for Higher Education (CHE),' she said. Portfolio committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie welcomed the submission of a letter containing the names of panel members. Letsie said the committee has consistently held the view that Nkabane was constitutionally obligated to disclose the names of the panel members to Parliament. 'We are pleased that sanity has prevailed and that the minister has now complied with this requirement. The committee believes this disclosure should have occurred from the outset,' he said. Letsie stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in institutions funded by public resources. 'We are dealing with public institutions funded through parliamentary appropriations. It was therefore baffling that the committee had to strongly remind the minister of such a basic accountability requirement in our democratic governance system.' Letsie said the committee will now engage with the minister further on the processes followed in appointing chairpersons to lead South Africa's 21 SETAs. Khakhau said her party will refer Nkabane to the Ethics Committee. 'The DA will refer the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, to the ethics committee for misleading the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education when she stated that all members of the Sector Education and Training Authority board chairpersons Selection and Evaluation Panel were independent,' she said.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
DA: Minister Nkabane packed SETA panel with ANC loyalists
Higher Education Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane faces scrutiny after disclosing the names of the SETA board selection panel, following accusations of bias and lack of transparency. Image: X The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused Higher Education Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane of 'misleading' Parliament by claiming the SETA selection panel was independent, despite alleged ANC affiliations and ties to her office. The party alleges that Nkabane inaccurately claimed that all members of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) Board Chairpersons Selection and Evaluation Panel were independent. According to the DA, the panel consisted of individuals linked to the African National Congress (ANC) and staff from the minister's own office. The controversy comes after weeks of tension between Nkabane and the committee. Members insisted that Parliament had a constitutional right to know who was appointed to oversee this key governance function. IOL News previously reported that Nkabane had previously refused to disclose the panel's composition and reportedly clashed with MPs during a tense committee meeting last month, where she was accused of being dismissive. However, due to mounting pressure, Nkabane, on Tuesday released the names of the panel members appointed to oversee the selection and recommendation of SETA board chairpersons. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The panel, disclosed by the minister, includes: - Adv. Terry Motau, SC (Chairperson), although the committee noted he did not attend any of the meetings - Asisipho Solani - Nelisiwe Semane - Mabuza Ngubane - Rhulani Ngwenya DA MP and member of the committee Karabo Khakhau questioned the transparency of the process, alleging the panel helped Nkabane appoint ANC-aligned individuals to key SETA board positions. Khakhau pointed out that Solani is a former South African Students Congress (SASCO) leader and a former member of the Western Cape ANC Youth League's interim leadership. Solani currently serves as an advisor to the minister. Semane is the minister's chief of staff, while Ngubane is a chief director for SETA coordination, and Ngwenya is the department's deputy director-general for corporate services. Khakhau also said that Motau, while listed as chairperson, did not attend any meetings, raising questions about who led the panel's deliberations. Additionally, Khakhau accused Nkabane of failing to disclose all panel members. The minister reportedly said one individual requested anonymity, and she withheld two more names from the National Skills Authority (NSA) Selection and Evaluation Panel, as well as one from the Universities Council Ministerial Appointments and the Selection and Evaluation Panel for the Council for Higher Education (CHE). Khakhau said the party plans to refer Nkabane to the ethics committee, accusing her of misleading Parliament by claiming all members of the SETA Board Chairpersons Selection Panel were independent The DA said it will request the full minutes of the panel's meetings and all reports submitted to the NSA regarding the appointments. Meanwhile, Portfolio Committee Chairperson Tebogo Letsie welcomed the eventual disclosure of the panel members' names, saying the committee had consistently maintained that the minister was constitutionally obligated to reveal this information. 'We are pleased that sanity has prevailed and that the minister has now complied with this requirement,' said Letsie. 'The committee believes this disclosure should have occurred from the outset.'
