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TimesLIVE
03-07-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Parties support Nkabane's education vote, staying out of ANC/DA spat
The DA was warned against diverting attention away from the crucial matters of the higher education sector, with parties saying they refuse to be "swindled" into the DA's spat with the ANC. This follows a recent announcement that the DA intends to boycott the budget votes in departments led by controversial ANC ministers such as Dr Nobuhle Nkabane and Thembi Simelane, who leads human settlements. The DA has called for their axing. The fury of the GNU's second-biggest party was prompted by the ousting of their former deputy minister of trade, industry and competition, Andrew Whitfield, last week. However, parties say they will not allow the budget vote to stand in the way of the department's ability to continue with its functions. EFF MP Sihle Lonzi led the charge, saying that while they do not see eye to eye with Nkabane, they will not be hoodwinked by GNU's trouble in paradise. 'We are perplexed that the DA only discovered corruption when their deputy minister was fired. Before the firing, they were singing praises about the GNU, today they want to behave like an opposition. The people of South Africa are not stupid and can see through your lies. We are not going to waste time on this fake fight between the DA and the ANC. 'The DA will vote for this budget which funds each and every department, including the department of higher education and human settlements. The DA's narrative is a deliberate distortion at best and sheer ignorance at worst. The EFF has been at the forefront of confronting the crisis at higher education even when those who are making the most noise now stood on the sidelines.' The highly anticipated higher education budget vote took place in the mini plenary of the National Assembly on Thursday. Lonzi told the plenary the EFF will not fall for the propaganda of the DA that it can support certain budgets and not other departments, clarifying that the DA's stance is not going to be effective. 'There are four key budget votes in parliament. The first is the fiscal framework and revenue proposals which gives budget bills the blueprint and sets the economic policy direction, which the DA voted in support of. "The second is the division of revenue bill which deals with the appropriation of national and provincial government, the DA voted in support and it passed. "We are now dealing with the appropriations bill which allocates funds to government departments and programmes — the DA cannot cherry pick. Voting for the appropriation bill means approving the entire budget inclusive of all the departments.' Lonzi gave the minister seven steps to turn around the embattled education sector, which included the 'fixing' of NSFAS or complete removal of the controversial institution. 'You must rescue higher education from the collapse. There should be no reason NSFAS still struggles to pay students. We have about 19-million people on SASSA and an additional 9-million people receiving the R350 grant every single month. NSFAS only deals with an odd one-million students, why is there no efficient payment system that will pay students, institutions and accommodation directly?' He added that the minister ought to blacklist corrupt board members. 'You must clean up the SETAs. You must blacklist corrupt board members and CEOs, not this thing you are doing now where when someone is suspended in one SETA, you take them [into] another SETA,' he said. DA MP Karabo Khakhau who led the charge against Nkabane said she was not surprised by Nkabane's actions, saying that it is a result of the culture of the political party that has deployed her. 'To them, corruption is their daily bread. Living in a corruption-free South Africa is a threat against the very core of their existence. Unlike the other political parties who have today pledged their support to this budget under Nkabane, the DA has not forgotten about the people of this country. 'Our loyalty remains to nothing but the people. South Africa can count on the DA to fight for them and for justice against corruption. The real enemy of progress against young people is Nkabane - it is the ANC for protecting her and corruption, it is President Ramaphosa for refusing to fire her, it is the political parties that think R142bn is safe in the hands of Dr Nkabane.' She told Nkabane that she should voluntarily vacate office if she feels strongly about serving the young people of this country. 'Committing fraud under statutory offence under section 26 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament Act is not only spitting on the graves of the forefathers of this democracy, but it is spitting in the faces if the young people whom you've failed to lead. It is a spit in the face of your DHET staff that you have sacrificed at the altar of your own protection. 'You said that you are dedicating this budget to the memory of the fallen heroes and heroines of the PSET sector. So I dare you, do the right thing in honour of them and resign! Detox the department of the toxicity of your poor leadership, arrogance, effective allergy to honesty and commitment to no-one but yourself. You don't need to wait for President Ramaphosa to fire you, if you mean it that you are a servant of the leadership of the people, serve and be honest and resign.' Build One South Africa's Mmusi Maimane argued that the sector had bigger problems, adding that the starting point was to clear the air around Nkabane's alleged wrongdoing. 'On leadership, we can debate whether this is the right minister or not the right minister. The issue of whether the minister misled parliament needs to be brought to a parliamentary committee and an investigation must be sought so we can get to the bottom of this. It's not a violation of anyone's feelings, it's about a constitutional obligation which must be followed.' He added that the bigger picture is to understand that the ambition of freedom could not be delinked to the sector overseen by Nkabane. 'You cannot delink the ambition of freedom from the ambition of higher education. We focused on the intrinsic nature of education but we've never linked it to our economic outputs. When we derive a plan for what South Africa needs to look like in the future, we become clear about the kind of graduates that we want to produce. 'This department progressively oversees the number of black students declining who go into higher education, but students who are Asian and Indian are increasing. It tells you that our empowerment story has been delinked from higher education.' He urged the ministry to prioritise access to higher education to fully commit to the transformation of the country. 'From a capacity point of view, it's clear that infrastructure build in higher education is poor. We are talking about a shortage of 500,000 beds in this country. If we are going to see the doors of learning open, as is the ambition, we need to fund the capacity thereof. 'It's now common cause that NSFAS is not an efficient institution for managing how many students we want to get in. It's either we reform NSFAS or we shut out the middle man.' Rise Mzansi's Makashule Gana told the committee that he refuses to take part in the scandal and spectacle that has brought attention to the ministry. 'Education, especially higher education, is not a luxury, it is a path out of poverty and is the foundation of a prosperous nation. The department's R142bn budget is substantial but not enough, because our crisis is not just funding — its spatial, access, and a system that is failing the poor. "Nowhere is that failure more glaring than in NSFAS. I'm a product of it, many of us are, but what we see today is heartbreaking because hyenas and tenderpreneurs are circling what should be a lifeline for our students. That R95bn for NSFAS has to go to students, not middlemen.' Despite the minister conceding that there is a R1.4bn deficit in the universities' budget, she vowed that the NSFAS budget would 'not be sufficient to meet the growing demand for access to higher education". NSFAS funding sits at R48.7bn this year, with further increases planned in the coming years. Nkabane's budget covered key higher education sectors, detailing that TVET colleges are to receive R14bn, up from R13.1bn last year. The combined allocation for Sector Education and Training Authorities and the National Skills Fund is R26bn. Meanwhile, university education rises from R91.7bn in 2024 to R96bn this year alone.
TimesLIVE
20-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
If we are hungry, Mantashe's child must also be: EFF's Sihle Lonzi
EFF student command president Sihle Lonzi has spoken out against favouritism and nepotism in government appointments, citing high unemployment in South Africa. Speaking to supporters on Monday at the party's VAT victory march, Lonzi said the party won't tolerate ANC leaders' children being preferred for jobs over others. 'We don't have a problem with the children of ANC politicians and ministers. Our fight with them is not personal, but we have a problem with favouritism and nepotism,' he said. Lonzi's statement came after a recent parliamentary portfolio committee meeting in which he questioned the department of higher education's appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairs. The controversy surrounds Buyambo Mantashe, the son of ANC national chair Gwede Mantashe, who was listed as one of the Seta board chairs. After public outrage, the appointments were withdrawn. The issue was escalated by the high number of unemployed youth in the country, with the unemployment rate increasing by a percentage point to reach 32.9% in the first quarter of the year. Lonzi argued that politicians' children should not be given preferential treatment when many young people are struggling to find jobs. 'We have a problem if the children of politicians jump the line when young people in South Africa are unemployed. 'If we are unemployed, even the child of Ramaphosa must be unemployed. If we are hungry, the child of Mantashe must also be hungry. If we don't have jobs, even the child of Mbalula must not get a job. We are tired of politicians eating while the youth of this country remain hungry.' EFF leader Julius Malema has previously called for South Africans to be prioritised for jobs, regardless of language or connections. 'We don't want to know if you're a relative, we don't want to know which language you speak. If you're South African and qualified, get the job. That should be the position of the EFF councillor. We need to prioritise South Africans and our own constituency.'
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Higher education minister withdraws appointment of Seta board chairpersons
Leaked names of those previously appointed included politically-connected persons. Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Nobuhle Nkabane has withdrawn the appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairpersons. The decision, announced on Thursday and effective immediately, follows allegations of appointments of the politically connected. This week, a list of new appointments was leaked, and it included sitting ANC councillors, those connected to ANC leaders and ANC provincial executive members from KwaZulu-Natal. ALSO READ: Irrelevant SETAs should move with the times The list sparked a public outcry, with the DA on Tuesday calling for the minister to be summoned to the portfolio committee on higher education to account for the reported appointments. 'These appointments raise serious concerns about the politicisation of institutions meant to serve all South Africans. SETA boards play a vital role in skills development and economic empowerment. They are not ANC cadre deployment havens, nor should they be misused as rewards for political loyalty,' said the DA on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the EFF's Sihle Lonzi was removed from parliament after demanding an explanation for the Seta appointments. However, parliament said it only removed Lonzi after it had already been agreed upon to summon the minister to explain the appointments. ALSO READ: Outa and whistle-blower accuse government's skills training bodies of 'repurposing' funds 'Despite this prior agreement, Mr Lonzi proceeded to request a response from the Director-General regarding the board appointments, contrary to the Chairperson's guidance,' said parliament in a statement. 'The committee views Mr Lonzi's accusation that the Chairperson was protecting the Director-General as regrettable, particularly given that Mr Lonzi was not present when the committee collectively agreed on the process to be followed.' Seta board appointments On Thursday night, the minister announced the withdrawal of the appointments after broader consultations with stakeholders in the post-school education and training sector and their counsel regarding the appointments. 'Following broader consultations with stakeholders in the post-school education and training sector and their counsel regarding the appointment of the chairpersons of the boards of SETAS, I have decided to recalibrate the process, which was overseen by an independent panel,' said Nkabane. 'I call on all relevant constituencies to nominate candidates. ALSO READ: Setas empowers youth through skills development programme 'I have taken the decision to withdraw previous appointments in response to public concerns. Further, I take this decision in the interest of good governance, transparency to ensure accountability of the appointment process. 'In this regard, I will reopen the process by issuing a government gazette calling for nominations for a limited run of seven days. 'I will also establish a new independent panel to process the nominations and recommend candidates. This process will put emphasis on merit, competencies and relevant experiences, with balanced representations in terms of race, gender, youth and persons with disabilities.' EFF welcomes decision The EFF welcomed the withdrawal of the appointments. 'It is our firm belief that these appointments were not made in the spirit of fairness, transparency, or merit, but were instead a manifestation of the ANC's longstanding practice of rewarding political loyalty with positions of public responsibility,' said the party on Friday. 'The reopening of the nomination process must not be a cosmetic exercise. It must lead to the selection of the best candidates based on merit, experience, and a demonstrable track record of ethical leadership. Anything less will be a betrayal of the public trust.' READ NEXT: Higher education minister apologises for late Nsfas payments, addresses appeals
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
EFF slams ‘unconstitutional' removal of its MP Sihle Lonzi over question on Gwede Mantashe's son
EFF MP has condemned the removal of its MP, Sihle Lonzi calls, from a parliamentary meeting after asking a question about appointment of Gwede Mantashe's son to the SETA board. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has condemned what it called the unconstitutional conduct and abuse of power by chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Higher Education Tebogo Letsie, after its MP Sihle Lonzi was forcibly removed after asking about the alleged appointment of Gwede Mantashe's son to a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board. EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo condemned Lonzi's removal as a 'violent suppression of accountability' and an abuse of authority. 'Instead of allowing the DG to respond to this legitimate inquiry, Chairperson Tebogo Letsie, backed by ANC-aligned committee members, shut down the question, disrupted proceedings, and proceeded to call in parliamentary security personnel to forcibly remove Commissar Lonzi from the meeting,' Thambo said. 'Let it be known that Commissar Lonzi's only 'crime' was demanding accountability. His question directly addressed the politicisation, cadre deployment, and corruption that have become the defining feature of the ANC's relationship with public institutions,' he added. Lonzi's confrontation follows the circulation of a leaked list of SETA board appointments that sparked political backlash and accusations of 'political patronage.' Thambo claimed the appointments are 'glaring examples of political patronage,' adding that SETAs are being turned into 'ANC deployment zones' for loyal cadres and relatives of senior party members. The ANC in Parliament rejected the allegations, describing them as 'spurious' and accusing the EFF of staging a coordinated attack on Letsie. 'Honourable Lonzi is on a wild goose chase,' the party said in a statement. 'Cde Tebogo Letsie was fulfilling his duty as chairperson to ensure that the committee's agenda was adhered to and that the meeting did not degenerate into chaos.' The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education also criticised Lonzi's conduct. Committee spokesperson Jabulani Majozi said the accusation that Letsie was shielding the director general was 'regrettable,' especially since Lonzi was absent when the committee agreed on how to handle the matter. Chaos erupts at Parliament On Wednesday, IOL News reported that chaos erupted on Wednesday during the meeting when security officers removed Lonzi after questioning the appointment of Buyambo Mantashe, son of ANC Chairperson and Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe, to the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (MERSETA) board. In a video shared on social media, Lonzi is seen clashing with Letsie while pressing the director general of the Department of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nkosinathi Sishi, for answers. Lonzi insisted on using his allocated time to raise concerns about alleged political appointments, despite Letsie's repeated attempts to shift the discussion.
Daily Maverick
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
EFF's Sihle Lonzi evicted from Parliament after challenging Seta board appointments
Chaos broke out at a hearing of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Higher Education when EFF MP Sihle Lonzi was forcibly removed after raising concerns about leaked Seta board appointments. Tensions ran high in Parliament on Tuesday, 14 May during a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training when Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Sihle Lonzi questioned the department's director-general, Dr Nkosinathi Sishi, about a leaked list of newly appointed chairpersons to Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) boards. Lonzi questioned the transparency and political impartiality of the Seta board appointments. However, the committee chairperson, Tebogo Letsie (ANC), intervened, saying the minister of higher education, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, who was absent, would address the issue later. Letsie noted that the committee had previously decided to defer the discussion until the minister's appearance, a decision Lonzi missed due to his late arrival. The situation escalated into a heated exchange, with Lonzi accusing the chairperson of shielding the department from accountability. 'This chairperson is protecting corruption,' shouted Lonzi. 'The son of [Minerals and Petroleum Resources] Minister Gwede [Mantashe] gets to be appointed illegally in Setas, and now we are being thrown out because this chairperson is protecting corruption,' said Lonzi as parliament security evicted him from the meeting. ANC member Gaolatlhe Kgabo shouted at Lonzi while he was being evicted, 'You think you can come here and tell us what to do? We cannot be dictated to by an individual.' Skills development Setas facilitate skills development through programmes like learnerships and internships. In 2024, Nkabane issued a call for nominations for the appointment of chairpersons of accounting authorities for 21 Setas, who would serve a five-year term, from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030. The leaked Seta board list, seen by Daily Maverick, includes Gwede Mantashe's son Buyambo Mantashe, who has been appointed chairperson of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Seta. Also named are former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and ex-ANC provincial deputy chairperson Mike Mabuyakhulu. Lonzi told Daily Maverick that Letsie was using the committee to settle ANC internal scores. 'He wants to appear to be strong, a person of accountability, but once you touch those that are going to impact his factional interests within the ANC, he wants to come as a defence. He's turning that committee into a toothless dog.' Letsie confirmed that the committee had agreed to write to Nkabane following a letter by committee member Karabo Khakhau (DA) calling for the minister to be summoned urgently to explain the appointments. Khakhau wrote to Letsie that: 'These appointments raise serious concerns about the politicisation of institutions meant to serve all South Africans. Seta boards play a vital role in skills development and economic empowerment. They are not ANC cadre deployment havens, nor should they be misused as rewards for political loyalty.' Letsie defended his handling of the committee session, stating: 'He [Lonzi] first arrived late, there was no apology and then after members had agreed on the matter of Setas, he wanted to defy that decision. He just wanted to grandstand today because he felt left out by the letter of the DA that was making the rounds.' DM
