By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Higher Education Dr Nobuhle Nkabane has apologised to Advocate Terry Motau for misrepresenting his role in the advisory panel that helped her appoint South Africa’s Sector Eduation and Training Authorities (SETA) board chairs.
This comes after Motau rejected her claims that he chaired an independent panel tasked with recommending chairpersons for South Africa’s Sector Eduation and Training Authorities.
The appointments made by the panel included ANC politicians Gwede Mantashe’s son, Buyambo Mantashe, former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and ex-ANC KZN deputy chairperson Mike Mabuyakhulu.
All of these were withdrawn later, after MPs on the Higher Education Committee called it “corruption” and following a public outcry.
The panel list released by the minister named Motau as chair, alongside four officials from her department: her adviser Solani, Ngwenya, chief director for Seta coordination Mabuza Ngubane and chief of staff Nelisiwe Semane.
According to Motau, Nkabane first contacted him on 18 March 2025, requesting that he chair the panel. He attended a preliminary meeting with the minister’s adviser, Asisipho Solani, former Central Energy Fund chair Luvo Makasi and deputy director-general Rhulani Ngwenya to discuss the intended process.
A second meeting, scheduled to take place at Motau’s chambers with Solani and Ngwenya, was never held.Instead, Motau said he only learnt about the final appointments through media reports, with no further engagement or briefing from the minister’s office.
The departments spokesperson, Camagwini Mavovana, says Nkabane has apologised to Motau for any inconvenience, reputational discomfort, or misunderstanding that may have arisen.
“ There was never any intent to misrepresent Motau’s role or to cause harm to his professional standing. The minister has further undertaken to brief the portfolio committee on higher education formally, regarding the developments and steps taken to clarify Advocate Motau’s non-involvement in the panel.”
The department’s statement came less than 24 hours after Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education said it would summon Nkabane to disclose the outstanding names on her advisory panel.
Chairperson of the committee, Tebogo Letsie, briefed the media in Cape Town on Monday.
“The committee deliberated on the matter and resolved that the minister is legislatively obligated to furnish the Parliament with the outstanding names of the panellists who were concealed on the submitted list,” said Letsie.
“Including terms of reference given by the minister in respect of their expected roles as panel members. Remuneration, if any, for the services rendered in their capacity as panel members.”
Parliament also wants the minutes of the selection and evaluation proceedings, as well as the report sent to the National Skills Authority for consultation purposes.
Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa requested a report from Nkabane on her conduct during a recent appearance in Parliament.
Meanwhile the DA has filed a supplementary ethics complaint against Nkabane after it learnt that Motau wrote to Nkabane claiming he had nothing to do with the process. This complaint is an addition to the ethics complaint submitted.