Hawks confirm investigating Higher Education Minister Nkabane over ‘alleged ANC cadre deployment'
Image: Facebook
The Hawks have confirmed they are investigating criminal charges against Higher Education Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, following a complaint filed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) last week.
The DA alleges that Nkabane lied to Parliament and facilitated ANC cadre deployment to Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) boards. Nkabane is accused of fraud and lying to Parliament under the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament Act.
Hawks national spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale confirmed to IOL News on Monday afternoon that the case is currently in its early stages.
'The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation can confirm that a case has been opened for investigation, which is at an early stage,' Mogale said.
'Further details cannot be interrogated in the media space.'
The DA's national spokesperson Karabo Khakhau confirmed the Hawks' probe, saying the party welcomes the serious attention given to the complaint.
'We welcome that the criminal complaint against Nkabane is being seen in a most serious light by the Hawks,' said Khakhau.
'It is unfathomable that President Ramaphosa remains idle and silent about allegations of egregious ANC corruption and law-breaking in the national executive.'
Khakhau criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa for taking no action against Nkabane and other ANC ministers facing corruption allegations, including Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane.
Nkabane faces allegations of fraud and the statutory offence of lying to Parliament.
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
According to the DA, she orchestrated a scheme that saw senior ANC figures and their associates appointed to lucrative SETA board positions.
Some beneficiaries included the son of Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, Buyambu, former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dr Dube-Ncube, and other high-ranking ANC figures.
Khakhau claimed Nkabane oversaw 'a scheme to make ANC cadres rich' and engaged in deception to cover it up.
'For that gross abuse of power, she has suffered zero consequences from President Ramaphosa,' she added.
The DA said it looks forward to continued cooperation with the Hawks as the investigation progresses.
'We will provide further updates as this criminal investigation into ANC Minister Nkabane unfolds,' Khakhau said.
Last week, IOL News reported that DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille said the party opened the criminal complaint due to Ramaphosa's inaction against corruption.
'We're here today for the simple reason that President Ramaphosa refuses to be as good as his word and act against corruption,' Zille said during a media briefing last week.
'That kind of behaviour goes unchecked, while a DA deputy minister is fired for taking a personal trip without presidential permission.'
Zille accused Nkabane of appointing ANC loyalists to SETA boards under the pretence of an 'independent panel.'
Among those who were appointed, but later withdrawn were:
- Buyambo Mantashe, chairperson of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (MERSETA) board and son of Gwede Mantashe
- Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, chairperson of the Banking SETA (BANKSETA) board
-Siboniso Mbhele, appointee to the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) board
- Loyiso Masuku, appointee to the Food and Beverages Manufacturing SETA (FOODBEV) board
Zille said Nkabane had falsely claimed the panel was chaired by Advocate Terry Motau, who later denied any involvement.
'She lied to a parliamentary committee, which amounts to lying to Parliament,' Zille said.
'Upon further investigation, the DA found that three of the six panel members were employees of Nkabane's department, and others were ANC affiliates.'
Nkabane initially refused to disclose the panel members' names but later submitted the list under pressure. It included:
- Advocate Terry Motau (who denied serving), Asisipho Solani, Nelisiwe Semane, Mabuza Ngubane and Rhulani Ngwenya.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
30 minutes ago
- Daily Maverick
Educated for leadership and engulfed by scandal, Minister Nkabane faces her sternest test
Calls have intensified for President Ramaphosa to dismiss Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, whose recent appointments and conduct have sparked widespread public and political outrage. Nobuhle Nkabane, who was appointed as minister of higher education in July 2024, was once seen as an emerging leader with a seemingly impeccable record marked by extensive academic achievements and a steady rise in the public service. She was expected to bring renewed energy and reform to a critical portfolio. However, less than a year into her tenure, that optimism has been overshadowed by controversy. Allegations of corruption, misleading Parliament and making politically loaded appointments to the boards of Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) have sparked public outrage and legal and parliamentary scrutiny. Following the abrupt dismissal of Deputy Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Andrew Whitfield, the Democratic Alliance (DA) publicly called for the immediate removal of Nkabane. We take a closer look at Nkabane and the path that led her to the influential role she holds today. From rural roots to academic heights Nkabane's academic journey began in KwaZulu-Natal, where she attended Ibisi Primary School in Umzimkhulu and matriculated at Task Force High School. In 2001, she earned a Diploma in Business Administration from Durban University of Technology, according to her LinkedIn profile. From 2007 to 2009, she completed a Diploma in Youth Development at the University of South Africa (Unisa). From 2010 to 2014 she pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities at Unisa, focusing on government, administration and development. Her postgraduate studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal include a Bachelor of Administration, Honours (2015, cum laude), a Master of Administration in Public Administration (2016), and a PhD in Public Administration (2019). Alongside these, Nkabane completed several professional and executive programmes: a Compliance Management Programme at the University of Cape Town (2016–2017), Executive Development (NQF Level 7) at Stellenbosch Business School (2017), and participated in the African American European Summer School in Nancy, France. She expanded her qualifications with a postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law from the University of the Western Cape (2020), and in March 2025 obtained a Master of Science in International Business Administration from SOAS University of London. Currently, she is studying for a Master of Management in Energy Leadership at Wits Business School. Nkabane's ascent Nkabane's early career included roles as a personal assistant at Umzimkhulu Local Municipality and as a youth coordinator at Sisonke District Municipality. According to the South African Government website, her political journey began with leadership positions in the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and the ANC Women's League across branch, regional, and provincial levels in KwaZulu-Natal. As a leader in the ANCYL Sisonke Region, she played a key role in the successful campaign to rename Sisonke District Municipality to Harry Gwala District Municipality, honouring the anti-apartheid stalwart. She was elected as a member of Parliament in 2019 and served on several portfolio committees, including Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Employment and Labour, and Sports, Arts and Culture. She was also a member of the committee that evaluated the Public Protector's fitness for office. In 2022, she joined the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) and was appointed convenor of NEC deployees in Mpumalanga. In August 2021, Ramaphosa appointed her deputy minister of mineral resources and energy, a role she held until June 2024. On 3 July 2024, she was sworn in as minister of higher education in the Government of National Unity. Nkabane's promise to reform higher education The Higher Education Ministry had been beset by systemic failures and public distrust. Nkabane promised a decisive shift in how the sector, particularly the troubled National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), would be managed. The scheme was placed under administration in April 2024 after serious mismanagement and failure to deliver student allowances. In her maiden budget speech in Parliament on 16 July 2024, Nkabane pledged a full overhaul of the fund, promising to root out corruption. She also vowed to engage directly with student formations to better understand their daily struggles in accessing higher education. Another item high on her agenda was the accommodation crisis plaguing students. In February, Nkabane said that after consulting with landlords and student representatives, she had found common ground and was inspired by the voices of students. She also focused on the Setas, key to upskilling South Africa's youth. Her department allocated R333-million to support Seta programmes aiming to build a skilled and capable workforce to support inclusive growth. Strategic appointments to rebuild trust To steady the NSFAS ship, Nkabane appointed Waseem Carrim as its acting CEO, with a mandate to restore integrity and operational efficiency. She also reconstituted the NSFAS board. Carrim, a former National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) CEO, has since outlined ambitious plans to tackle governance failures and financial mismanagement at the agency. Another key appointment was Asanda Luwaca, chairperson of the NYDA, who was appointed as chairperson of the National Skills Authority on 7 May. These moves reflected Nkabane's focus on appointing young, capable leaders to steer the sector towards reform. Despite these bold commitments, many of the minister's promises have yet to materialise. Issues around student allowances, poor accommodation and delayed payments to landlords persist. Student protests have continued at university and TVET college campuses over the NSFAS's failure to disburse funds timeously. There have been reports of squalid living conditions, overcrowding and exploitative rents. Landlords have claimed the NSFAS failed to pay them for months. Earlier this year, more than 80 students at UCT lived in campus offices without proper facilities, while Wits students went on a hunger strike in protest at being excluded from registration because of historical debt. The Seta scandal: A growing storm However, the biggest crisis of her short tenure has stemmed from the Setas that she sought to empower. Opposition parties and civil society slammed a leaked list of 21 Seta board chairpersons, exposed by Daily Maverick, for including politically connected figures like Buyambo Mantashe and former KZN premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube. Critics accused Nkabane of nepotism, and in an open letter to Ramaphosa, DA MP Karabo Khakhau called for her dismissal. Nkabane rescinded the appointments, but the political fallout was significant. She established an independent panel to assist her in making appointments to the NSFAS and other entities. The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education demanded the names of the panellists, and Nkabane revealed five names: Advocate Terry Motau SC; Asisipho Solani; Nelisiwe Semane; Rhulani Ngwenya; and Mabuza Ngubane. However, Motau denied ever chairing the independent panel, contradicting Nkabane's claims. Nkabane later apologised for naming him. The other panellists she listed have held departmental roles for more than six months, according to their LinkedIn profiles, raising doubts about the panel's independence. On 30 June, the DA opened a criminal case against her for allegedly lying about the appointment process of ANC cadres to Seta boards, specifically disputing her claim that an independent panel chaired by Motau oversaw the appointments — a claim Motau denied. The following day, 1 July, the DA — a member of the coalition government — publicly opposed the Department of Higher Education and Training's budget vote in the National Council of Provinces, calling for Nkabane's removal due to the allegations against her. Throughout early July, the DA and opposition parties continued to reject her budget proposals amid ongoing concerns about corruption and trustworthiness, while Nkabane defended the department's R142-billion budget. She is expected to appear before the higher education portfolio committee, alongside her panel and deputy ministers Buti Manamela and Mimmy Gondwe, to answer allegations of misleading Parliament. On 23 June, TimesLIVE reported that the chair of the higher education portfolio committee, Tebogo Letsie, suggested that Nkabane might have breached section 17 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities Act, which criminalises knowingly giving false information to Parliament, further intensifying calls for her accountability. Sasco president Alungile Kamtshe, who was at the ANC's Luthuli House headquarters on Sunday to address the state of the department, NSFAS and the Setas, said Nkabane had to be removed as minister. He said the issues faced by students were a result of Nkabane not delivering services to them. Daily Maverick sent questions to Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on whether Ramaphosa had met with Nkabane to chart a way forward. No response had been received by the time of publication. However, the secretary-general of the ANC, Fikile Mbalula, said during a press briefing that Nkabane had had no intention of misleading Parliament over the Seta appointment process and the naming of Motau. 'We reject the Democratic Alliance's opportunistic laying of criminal charges against the minister,' said Mbalula. 'The DA's conduct is not grounded in legal principle but in performative politics… The minister has decided to restart the process afresh, in full compliance with legal provisions, and without the influence of the prior panel. We invite broader sectoral participation, including business, labour, and student organisations, in the spirit of cooperative governance, a process we fully support as the African National Congress.' For a minister who came in with promises to listen, clean up and restore dignity to the education sector, Nkabane now finds herself on the defensive. With her credibility under scrutiny, and trust from students, MPs and the public in question, her future as higher education minister hangs in the balance. DM
Daily Maverick
5 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Tshwane city manager faces ANC push for removal, three years on
The ANC wants to remove highly regarded Tshwane city manager Johann Mettler, three years after his appointment. Gauteng MEC for Local Government Jacob Mamabolo has weighed in with a letter about Mettler's appointment, showing that threats by the city's governing coalition to get rid of Mettler are becoming more serious. The three issues now raised by the provincial leader – who has oversight powers over the metro – were not flagged at the time of the appointment. Mettler is regarded as one of South Africa's most qualified and technocratic city managers: he has an LLM from Lund University in Sweden, an LLB and BProc from the University of the Western Cape, and has worked in local government since 1995. He has served as an administrator brought in to stabilise dysfunctional municipalities and was city manager of the Drakenstein and Nelson Mandela Bay councils. 'Whatever legal pretext the ANC coalition devises, the point is that the party would prefer one of their own deployed cadres – not an independent professional – in the job of municipal manager,' said Cilliers Brink, the DA Tshwane caucus leader and former mayor. He said Mettler had come under attack in council several times. 'The most notable of these attacks happened when it became clear that the city would not drop the case against the Rooiwaal Five, city officials implicated in the irregular tender award to a consortium of ANC funder Edwin Sodi.' Sodi won the tender for repairs to the Rooiwaal Waste-Water Treatment Plant, which were botched and caused severe downstream water contamination, most notably affecting the Hammanskraal community. Brink has written to Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya of ActionSA about the growing attacks on the city manager. 'ActionSA's position is clear and consistent: we will not support the removal of any senior manager unless there is a clear, lawful and governance-based reason for doing so. [We] will not compromise the integrity of governance in Tshwane for the sake of political expediency. We remain committed to a principled, lawful and stable administration that serves the best interests of residents,' the party said. Mamabolo has now raised concerns – three years after the fact – about the interview panel for Mettler's appointment and his qualifications under the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). Brink, who was mayor at the time of Mettler's appointment, said the panel that made the appointment complied with regulations for senior managers. Mettler had also completed the MFMA qualifications he needed. '…The legal implications of asking council to reverse an appointment at this stage remain uncertain and require careful consideration,' ActionSA said. The ANC holds 75 of 214 seats in the Tshwane council and governs with support from the EFF (23) and ActionSA (19), along with smaller parties. The DA has 69 seats. The attempt to axe Mettler could destabilise governance in South Africa's capital.
Eyewitness News
5 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
ANC's Mbalula says there was no intent from Nkabane to mislead Parliament
JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) says its deployed Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane did not "lie" to Parliament but made a "mistake" with the appointments of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) recently came under pressure after announcing SETA chairpersons, which included a number of ANC-linked minister later told Parliament that the names of the chairpersons were recommended to her by an independent advisory panel, which was dominated by people working in her department. ALSO READ:• DA says its criminal complaint against Minister Nkabane being investigated by Hawks • Nkabane more than capable of leading Higher Education Dept: ANC in National Assembly • Some parties in National Assembly reject Nkabane's budget • Nkabane: Parties rejecting budget of Higher Education Dept punishing SA students • Majority of political parties in NCOP reject higher education dept's budget, call for Nkabane's axing • ANC believes DA's criminal complaint against Nkabane part of its grievance over Whitfield's axing The ANC has been under pressure from some of its Government of National Unity (GNU) partners to take action against Nkabane for lying to minister submitted a list to Parliament, which said her "independent" advisory panel was chaired by Advocate Terry she was forced to rescind Motau's name after he wrote to Parliament saying that he played no part in the appointment of the politically connected SETA a media briefing on Monday, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said the minister had corrected her mistake by restarting the entire process."There was no intent to mislead Parliament and certainly no malice. Upon becoming aware of the error, the minister promptly apologised to Parliament and issued a formal written apology to Motau, personally and publicly, acknowledging the mistake and correcting the record." Mbalula has accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of "performative politics" by laying a perjury case against Nkabane with the police.
