logo
DA renews call for Nkabane's dismissal over Seta panel scandal

DA renews call for Nkabane's dismissal over Seta panel scandal

Mail & Guardian20 hours ago
Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane. (@Dr_NohbuleN/X)
The
This latest development has intensified scrutiny over Nkabane's role in appointing members to the Seta boards, which manage billions in public skills funding. The DA accused her of misleading parliament and violating the executive ethics code by fabricating the legitimacy of the selection process.
In May, Nkabane submitted a list of panel members to parliament in response to mounting pressure to explain how the Seta boards were constituted. The list was presented as evidence that an independent and credible process had been followed.
However, the individuals named as part of that panel, including renowned advocate
In a letter to the chairperson of parliament's portfolio committee on higher education Tebogo Letsie, Semane said her name appeared on the panel members list for the chairpersons' selection and recommendation because the minister had submitted a list that included all the panels that she had appointed since taking office.
'I did not participate in the selection and recommendation of Seta chairpersons — but participated in the process for the recommendation of Setas accounting authorities — and not board chairpersons. The minister's list of panel members was all-inclusive and did not distinguish between participation in accounting authorities and participation in Seta board chairs' selection and recommendations,' she said.
Motau publicly distanced himself from the process in June, stating that he had neither been approached for, nor appointed to, any such panel.
In her own letter to Letsie, Ngwenya said that, in October 2024, the responsibility for managing nominations of non-executive board members for various entities was transferred to corporate services in the higher education department.
A decision was made following consultations with the director general, Nkosinathi Sishi, and Nkabane. Ngwenya said that while she agreed to take on this function, she noted that, due to vacancies in middle and senior management of chief directorate and human resources, combined with the confidential nature of the work, she would need to handle the responsibilities herself.
'I was neither compensated nor remunerated against my appointment as a secretariat. I viewed this as an assignment of duties rather than a formal appointment, and as such, did not deem it necessary to formally accept the assignment in writing,' she said.
This contradiction has prompted the DA to escalate its campaign against the minister, with DA MP and spokesperson Karabo Khakhau laying a criminal complaint against Nkabane at the Cape Town central police station, accusing her of perjury, fraud and contravention of the Executive Members' Ethics Act.
'Minister Nkabane has been caught lying to parliament, misrepresenting the facts and attempting to legitimise a flawed and politically compromised process,' Khakhau said. 'This is not a small oversight. This is a calculated abuse of public trust and resources.'
On Wednesday, Khakhau asked why the president still kept Nkabane in the cabinet with evidence showing that she had lied to parliament.
The DA said the minister's chief of staff, along with ANC Youth League members and other party-linked individuals, including Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe's son, were part of the real decision-making process.
The party argues that the composition of the panel was manipulated to give the appearance of impartiality while serving factional interests in the ANC.
In a letter to Ramaphosa, the DA said the minister had 'completely lost the moral authority to hold public office' and demanded that she be removed without delay.
The matter has drawn criticism from other political parties. The uMkhonto weSizwe party, which became the official opposition last year when the DA joined the government of national unity, has echoed the call for Nkabane's dismissal, saying she had disrespected the rule of law and undermined institutional governance.
The South African Students Congress and the student command of the Economic Freedom Fighters have also raised concerns over governance failures in the higher education department, particularly in light of ongoing issues with National Financial Aid Scheme funding and administration.
In parliament, the DA refused to support the department of higher education's R142 billion budget during a recent debate, citing the minister's conduct. The party said it could not in good conscience support a budget 'presided over by a minister who has fundamentally breached the public's trust'.
The presidency has not indicated whether Ramaphosa will act on the DA's demands.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NEASA and Sakeliga file urgent court bid to halt employment equity quotas
NEASA and Sakeliga file urgent court bid to halt employment equity quotas

IOL News

time41 minutes ago

  • IOL News

NEASA and Sakeliga file urgent court bid to halt employment equity quotas

The National Employers Association of South Africa (NEASA) and Sakeliga have filed an urgent application in the Gauteng High Court In a joint statement issued to the media late on Thursday, the two groups argued that the quotas were introduced without proper consultation and failed to comply with legal and constitutional requirements. IOL previously reported that the government plans to introduce new employment equity targets under the amended Employment Equity Act (EEAA). These targets apply to 18 key sectors and require certain employers, particularly in senior roles, to align their workforce with the country's racial and gender demographics. The National Employers Association of South Africa (NEASA) and Sakeliga have filed an urgent application in the Gauteng High Court seeking to interdict the implementation of the Employment Equity sectoral quotas. "The Minister did not act in accordance with the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA), as she failed to adhere to the prescriptions of Section 15A of the EEA prior to the setting and publishing of the 2025 sectoral numerical quotas. This renders her actions unlawful and invalid". Earlier this year IOL also reported Minister of Employment and Labour, Nkosazana Meth, defended the sectoral quotas and criticised opposition to the reforms. She also accused the Democratic Alliance (DA), which has also launched a court challenge against the quotas, of seeking to maintain the status quo. "The DA's challenge seeks to disrupt efforts aimed at achieving equitable representation and maintaining the inherently unfair status quo. By opposing these amendments, the DA is actively sabotaging the transformation goals that have been pursued since the end of the apartheid era". NEASA and Sakeliga further argued that the quotas were 'irrational and arbitrary,' failing to consider the diverse circumstances across sectors, including differences in skills availability and regional demographics. The two groups also pointed out that the final quotas 'differ drastically' from earlier drafts published in 2023 and 2024 but were never republished for renewed public comment as required by law. "The quotas disregard South Africa's constitutional stipulations on non-racialism, equality before the law, and administrative justice". IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.

Charges laid against Mchunu, pressure mounts for Ramaphosa to break act amid national security concerns
Charges laid against Mchunu, pressure mounts for Ramaphosa to break act amid national security concerns

The Citizen

time43 minutes ago

  • The Citizen

Charges laid against Mchunu, pressure mounts for Ramaphosa to break act amid national security concerns

Ramaphosa is expected to meet with both Mchunu and Mkhawanazi before the end of the week. The political noose seems to be getting tighter and tighter around the neck of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. On Thursday, the DA laid criminal charges against him at the Cape Town police station for allegedly misleading parliament. Mchunu is accused of lying to the portfolio committee of police after he initially denied knowing Brown Mogotsi, a man accused of playing a role in capturing the South African Police Service (Saps). In March this year, Mchunu denied knowing Mogotsi. Yet, in a public statement on 9 July, the minister admitted that he does in fact know Mogotsi, describing him as 'a comrade'. DA deputy Chief Whip, Baxolile Nodada, said Mchunu's contradictory remarks raise grave concerns about his misleading of parliament. 'It is a criminal act to mislead parliament in terms of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act. 'The minister committed fraud by knowingly making a false statement with the intent to mislead parliament,' said Nodada. Nodada said Mchunu has violated the Powers and Privileges Act, which criminalises any attempt to mislead or obstruct parliament or its committees. 'It is simply unacceptable for a sitting minister to evade accountability while surrounded by allegations of corruption, links to criminal syndicates, and efforts to shield politically connected individuals from scrutiny,' he said. Where is the president? He criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa's inaction in the face of this growing scandal. 'It is indefensible. Four days after the explosive revelations by KwaZulu-Natal's provincial police commissioner, the president has neither acted against Minister Mchunu nor initiated any credible investigation,' he said. MK party lays criminal charges against Mchunu The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party also laid criminal charges against Mchunu for the same matter. 'We have opened criminal cases against Minister Mchunu, who is charged with obstructing and defeating the course of justice, abuse of power and criminal conspiracy aimed at undermining lawful investigations,' said party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela. The party has also opened a case against Mchunu for unlawfully issuing executive instructions to disband the Political Killings Task Team and using intimidation tactics against whistleblowers and law enforcement officers. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa urged to act fast amid explosive Saps feud EFF initiates Parliamentary disciplinary processes Meanwhile, the EFF has submitted an official affidavit to Parliament's Ethics Committee accusing Mchunu of breaching the Executive Members' Ethics Act and the 2014 Parliamentary Code of Conduct. 'The complaint, filed by EFF Chief Whip Nontando Nolutshungu, calls for a full investigation and accountability at the highest level of executive office,' said the party in a statement. NOW READ: Mkhwanazi vs Mchunu: Reputation of police now 'dented'

DA lays criminal charges against Police Minister Mchunu
DA lays criminal charges against Police Minister Mchunu

Eyewitness News

time44 minutes ago

  • Eyewitness News

DA lays criminal charges against Police Minister Mchunu

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has officially laid criminal charges against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, arguing he committed fraud by lying to Parliament. The DA joins the official opposition, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, which has also taken the legal route by opening a criminal case against Mchunu, as well as deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. The DA said it won't stand by and watch ministers lie to Parliament, an institution tasked with holding the executive to account. The DA returned to the Caledon Police Station in central Cape Town to lay criminal charges against Mchunu, just nine days after laying similar charges against Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane in a separate matter. The party said Mchunu clearly misled Parliament in March when he told the Police Committee that he did not know businessman Brown Mogotsi. According to KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Mogotsi allegedly influenced police investigations. On Wednesday, Mchunu backtracked on his earlier denial, saying he actually knows Mogotsi. DA deputy chief whip, Bax Nodada, said this admission is a clear violation of the law. "So that means he deliberately lied to members of Parliament, which breaks Section 27 of the Powers and Privileges Act, which means that he deliberately misled Parliament for trying to hold him accountable." Nodada said in addition to the criminal complaint and a parliamentary inquiry into Mchunu, the party has also approached Parliament's ethics committee to conduct its own investigation.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store