Charges laid against against Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane

THE Democratic Alliance (DA) has opened a criminal case against Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, accusing her of lying to Parliament about the appointment of ANC-linked individuals to Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) boards.

- MANDILAKHE TSHWETE

Yesterday morning, DA Federal Chairperson Helen Zille and DA MP. Karabo Khakhau, who serves on the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, laid the charges at the Cape Town Central police station.

Khakhau said the charges relate to Nkabane’s alleged deliberate misrepresentation of the appointment process for SETA board members, during which she claimed an “independent” evaluation panel was responsible for the selections.

“She falsely claimed an ‘independent’ panel made the appointments — including a chair who confirmed he wasn't involved, said Khakhau.

“The DA has laid criminal charges against Minister Nkabane for lying to Parliament about ANC cadre appointments. We will vote against her department'’s budget and other budgets led by corrupt ANC ministers.”

Khakhau accused Nkabane of facilitating “fraudulent” appointments by misleading the Parliamentary committee, and said the so-called independent panel had included her own Chief of Staff and an ANC Youth League leader.