The Democratic Alliance DA has accused Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane of lying to Parliament.
On Tuesday 16 June, Nkabane announced that she had disclosed the names of members of the selection panel that helped her appoint board chairs of Sector Education and Training Authorities SETAs.
The names she disclosed to Parliaments portfolio committee on higher education and training include:
- Adv Terry Motau: Panel chairperson.
- Asisipho Solani: Former South African Students Congress SASCO leader, former a member of the Western Cape ANC Youth Leagues ANCYL interim leadership, and Nkabanes current advisor.
- Nelisiwe Semane: Chief of Staff in the Nkabanes office.
- Mabuza Ngubane: a Chief Director for SETA Coordination.
- Rhulani Ngwenya: Current Deputy Director-General: Corporate Services: Department of Higher Education and Training, and former Deputy Director-General Corporate Management: Department of Tourism.
The Minister was forced to withdraw the appointments following claims of patronage. Some of those appointed had apparent links to the African National Congress, such as its National Chairperson Gwede Mantashes son.
Nkabane misled Parliament: DAIn a statement on Tuesday, DA member of Parliament Karabo Khakhau said the DA would refer Nkabane to Parliaments ethics committee for misleading the portfolio committee.
The Minister had informed the committee that all members of the selection panel were independent, Khakhau claimed.
However, two of them work in Nkabanes office while two others work in the Department. Only Motau could be considered independent, yet never attended any of the meetings, Khakhau said.
Furthermore, the Minister failed to reveal all the names as the name of one of the panel members concealed. The Minister cited that the person was not comfortable with their name being disclosed, she added.
The Minister also concealed two other 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.
Nkabane said on Tuesday that she stands ready to account to the portfolio committee and to respond to further request for information regarding the panel.