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.

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.”

He emphasised the need for 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.

He added that the committee will now engage Nkabane further on the process followed in appointing chairpersons for the country’s 21 SETAs.

In response, Nkabane’s office said she remains ready to account to the committee and respond to any further requests for information.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

Source link