Latest news with #Seta
The Citizen
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
'It's president prerogative to redeploy',Nkabane says
Nkabane has come under fire after being embroiled in allegations of corruption and other issues. Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Nobuhle Nkabane at the official launch of the National Skills Fund (NSF) Disabilities Programme Phase I at Blind SA on 29 November 2024 in Alberton, South Africa. Picture: Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi As calls grow for Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane to be removed for failing to deliver on the department's basic responsibilities, the minister said it is the prerogative of President Cyril Ramaphosa to redeploy her. Nkabane has come under fire after being embroiled in allegations of corruption and the illegal appointment of the Seta board, including accusations that she misled Parliament by providing false information about the procedure for appointing Seta chairs — a list dominated by ANC cadres — and about the composition of the panel that made the appointments. Calls for removal On Sunday, the South African Students Congress (Sasco) called for the immediate removal of Nkabane. It is the third organisation to call for the minister's axing, after the EFF and the DA also lodged complaints against her. ALSO READ: WATCH: Sasco calls for immediate removal of Minister Nobuhle Nkabane 'Not much to say' Speaking to the media on Monday, Nkabane said she did not have 'much to say'. 'Basically, there's nothing that I can say because it is the prerogative of the president to appoint and redeploy, so I cannot say anything. However, what I believe in is that we have an open-door policy as the department, and we do have a stakeholder engagement framework where we engage our stakeholders from time to time if there are any concerns. 'I'm still waiting for them to come and raise their concerns within the frameworks and the protocols of government because they did not come to me to raise those issues. I saw some of their concerns that they were raising yesterday through their media briefings,' Nkabane said. Criticism Nkabane said she welcomes criticism. 'We believe it is criticism that is going to make us grow and grow as we learn'. Nkabane said her department is ready to table the budget vote on Thursday, despite the DA stating it would not be voting because the minister is implicated in scandals. 'I wouldn't say they are correct or incorrect for raising their views. Everyone has a right to raise their views and opinions. However, we are preparing for the budget vote on Thursday, and we are ready as a department to table our budget vote in parliament and NCOP, so we are not shaken'. ALSO READ: 'Reputational discomfort': Minister apologises to Advocate Motau over Seta panel claim 'Lying to Parliament' Nkabane 'lied' to parliament about the appointment of the Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairs and 'must be fired', DA MP and portfolio committee member of education, Karabo Khakhau, told Ramaphosa in no uncertain terms last week. 'Mr President, you have a lying minister in your Cabinet, who has been caught red-handed. 'It is time for you to fire Minister Nobuhle Nkabane with immediate effect and to replace her with a minister committed to making higher education work, not committed to making work for ANC insiders,' Khakhau said. The minister was questioned by the portfolio committee on the composition of the panel tasked with appointing the chairs, and got into hot water when she told the committee that Advocate Terry Motau had chaired the process. Motau last week denied that he chaired the process, nor was he officially appointed as the panel chair. ALSO READ: 'A lying minister in Cabinet': Why has Ramaphosa not fired Nkabane?
The Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Sasco calls for immediate removal of Minister Nobuhle Nkabane
Sasco said the higher education minister is 'incompetent'. The South African Students Congress (SASCO) has called for the immediate removal of Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, saying she has failed to deliver on the department's basic responsibilities, including the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Sasco briefed the media on Sunday to discuss the state of the Higher Education Ministry, NSFAS, and the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA). Calls for Nkabane to be axed They are the third organisation this week to call for the minister's axing, after the EFF and the DA also lodged complaints against her. Nkabane has come under fire after being embroiled in allegations of corruption as well as the illegal appointment of the Seta board by 'misleading' parliament by providing false information about the procedure for appointing the Seta chairs – a list dominated by ANC cadres – and the composition of the panel that appointed the chairs. WATCH: Sasco president Alungile Amtshe speaking about Minister Nobuhle Nkabane [WATCH] SASCO president Alungile Kamtshe says the Department of Higher Education led by Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane has failed to deliver on its basic responsibilities including NSFAS. Kamtshe also flags "flawed" board appointments. Read more Should South Africa do away with deputy ministers? June 29, 2025 ALSO READ: 'A lying minister in Cabinet': Why has Ramaphosa not fired Nkabane? 'Nkabane incompetent' Sasco president Alungile Amtshe said their historical and contemporary mission is to fight for a 'fundamentally transformed and democratic education system.' Amtshe said Nkabane in 'incompetent.' The crisis facing students today is not incidental. It is the direct result of poor governance by the Department of Higher Education and Training and the opportunistic, malicious, and poor bourgeoisie agenda by the university and college management. 'It is our contention that DHAT, led by Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, within the government of national unity, has consistently failed to deliver on its most basic responsibilities, from the catastrophic delays in NSFAS first disbursements to the flawed appointment of the boards of strategic entities meant to accelerate access to training and higher education,' Amtshe said. ALSO READ: 'Reputational discomfort': Minister apologises to Advocate Motau over Seta panel claim University and college managers Amtshe said the failures also include the chronic underfunding of institutions that serve the children of the working class and the poor. 'University and college managers behave like ruthless CEOs of profit-driven enterprises, compromising the same stakeholders whom they are appointed to protect, the commodifying of Education, prioritizing elitist interests of enforcing austerity measures that crush the poor while protecting the comfort of the privileged. 'These managements are complicit in the systemic exclusion of black and working-class students, perpetuating a two-tier education system that serves capital, not the people, Amtshe said. [WATCH] SASCO is calling for the immediate removal of Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane. #Newzroom405 — Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 29, 2025 'No choice' Amtshe said they have been left with no choice but to take a 'drastic stance.' 'It is such that we have no other choice but to call for the immediate removal of the Minister of Higher Education, Minister Nobuhle Nkabane.' Amid rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle, President Cyril Ramaphosa was put under pressure to fire Nkabane last week. ALSO READ: 'We are not xenophobic': No justification to favour foreign academics over South Africans, says ANC MP
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
‘You must fire Nkabane': Nkabane misled Parliament, say MPs calling for dismissal
Nkabane allegedly lied about the Seta board panel, prompting MPs to demand her immediate removal. Dr Nobuhle Nkabane ( Minister of Higher Education and Training) at the official launch of the National Skills Fund (NSF) Disabilities Programme Phase I at Blind SA on November 29, 2024 in Alberton, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi) Amid rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle, President Cyril Ramaphosa is under pressure to fire Minister of Higher Education and Training Nobuhle Nkabane. Nkabane 'lied' to parliament about the appointment of the Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairs and 'must be fired', DA MP and portfolio committee member of education, Karabo Khakhau, told Ramaphosa in no uncertain terms. 'Mr President, you have a lying minister in your Cabinet, who has been caught red-handed. 'It's time to fire Nkabane with immediate effect' 'It is time for you to fire Minister Nobuhle Nkabane with immediate effect and to replace her with a minister committed to making higher education work, not committed to making work for ANC insiders.' Khakhau said. Nkabane 'misled' parliament by providing false information about the procedure for appointing the Seta chairs – a list dominated by ANC cadres – and the composition of the panel that appointed the chairs. The minister was questioned by the portfolio committee on the composition of the panel tasked to appoint the chairs and got into hot water when she told the committee advocate Terry Motau chaired the process. ALSO READ: 'Reputational discomfort': Minister apologises to Advocate Motau over Seta panel claim Motau this week denied he chaired the process, nor was he officially appointed as the panel chair. Khakhau was responsible for blowing the whistle on Nkabane's list of board chairs, that included former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa-Ncube and former KZN MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu. Besides ANC senior members, at least half of the list are individuals from KwaZulu-Natal, Nkabane's home province. Mantashe's son a chair for boards But it was her inclusion of Buyambo Mantashe, son of Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe as chair of one of the boards, that raised red flags. Mantashe senior was Nkabane's boss when she was deputy minister of mineral resources and energy between 2021 and 2024. Khakhau told Ramaphosa: 'She has used a strategy of lying to parliament to try and cover up her tracks, after she made a brazen ANC cadre deployment appointment to the boards of Seta. ALSO READ: 'We are not xenophobic': No justification to favour foreign academics over South Africans, says ANC MP 'South Africans were rightfully outraged about this. 'Once exposed and once public pressure mounted, Nkabane made an effective admission to her infringements by withdrawing the appointments.' Khakhau was joined by uMkhonto weSizwe party MP Mnqobi Msezane, who called for Nkabane's head, saying she is not fit to hold the position. Serious level of incompetence Nkabane displayed a serious level of incompetence, Msezane said. The minister has since admitted her wrongdoing, including her claim that Motau chaired the panel. She apologised to Motau, calling it a 'misunderstanding'. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni did not dismiss rumours about a Cabinet restructuring, except to say she was not aware of them. NOW READ: R27k in cash found in Walter Sisulu University deputy vice-chancellor's car after fatal shooting
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
'It's time to fire minister Nkabane': DA MP Khakhau writes open letter to Ramaphosa amid Seta board woes
DA MP Karabo Khakhau has written an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa urging him to fire higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane over the controversial appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairpersons, which were withdrawn after public backlash. There have been growing calls from other MPs to have Nkabane removed as minister. 'Mr President, you have a lying minister in your cabinet who has been caught red-handed,' Khakhau said in the letter. 'It is time for you to fire Nkabane with immediate effect and to replace her with a minister committed to making higher education work, not committed to making work for ANC insiders.' Nkabane allegedly misled MPs about an 'independent panel' she claimed had approved politically connected individuals for Seta boards. 'She has used a strategy of lying to parliament to try to cover her tracks after she made brazen ANC cadre deployment appointments to the Seta boards. South Africans were rightfully outraged about this. 'Once exposed, and once public pressure mounted, Nkabane made an effective admission of her infringements by withdrawing the appointments. Her ANC cadre deployment had been exposed, roundly criticised and she had to admit defeat.' In the list of the panel members, Nkabane falsely claimed legal expert advocate Terry Motau was part of the it. She later apologised, saying it was a misunderstanding. Khakhau said other members on the list were not independent. 'Some are on the payroll of her department and two are political appointments, including a chief of staff, in the office of the ANC minister.' Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa has not yet received the letter from Khakhau. He added MPs do not have the power to demand that Ramaphosa fire Nkabane. 'MPs do not get to direct the president on how to manage and lead the executive,' Magwenya told TimesLIVE. 'The principle of separation of powers of the three independent arms of the state must be respected. 'The president has asked for a report from Nkabane, the matter is being attended to. Therefore there's no need for letters urging the president to act on a matter he is attending to.'
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Minister's misstep demands accountability
Minister Nkabane's false claim involving Terry Motau warrants more than a weak apology—it warrants her resignation. Dr Nobuhle Nkabane ( Minister of Higher Education and Training) at the official launch of the National Skills Fund (NSF) Disabilities Programme Phase I at Blind SA on November 29, 2024 in Alberton, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi) Elon Musk's rocket business SpaceX is in the lead in the 'Euphemism of the Year' contest, with its phrase 'rapid unscheduled disassembly' to describe the explosion and disintegration of one of its launchers. But hot on its heels comes Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, who says that announcing respected advocate Terry Motau as the person who chaired a panel which made controversial Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board appointments was a 'misunderstanding'. The crossed wires have, according to her office, been 'constructively resolved with mutual understanding between both parties'. The reality is that Motau was never the head of any such panel – as he himself made plain in a forthright statement. ALSO READ: Higher education minster accused of covering up tender irregularities — report The Seta board appointments caused public outrage last month when several appointees were revealed to be ANC members, or had connections to the party. Initially, Nkabane refused to name the panel that assisted her when frustrated MPs demanded transparency … and then she tossed in Motau's name. His anger – and her awkward apology – must raise questions about whether Motau's name was cynically used to give legitimacy to an entirely dodgy process. More than that, though, the real question for the minister is: why have you not done the honourable thing and resigned? NOW READ: No party favourites: Minister defends appointment of Mantashe's son to Seta board
