By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Higher Education Dr Nobuhle Nkabane has withdrawn the appointment of the board chairpersons of the country’s various Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).
In a statement on Thursday night, the minister said she had made the decision following public concerns.
“I have decided to recalibrate the process – which was overseen by an independent panel. I call on all relevant constituencies to nominate candidates,” the statement read.
“The integrity of the process for appointments will be made in terms of the guidelines as outlined in the Skills Development Act, 1998 as amended.
I have taken the decision to withdraw previous appointments in response to public concerns.”
Nkabane said she had also taken the decision in the interest of good governance and transparency to ensure accountability of the appointment process.
However Fullview learnt that President Cyril Ramaphosa has instructed Nkabane to restart the entire process.
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 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.
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 Fullview includes 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.