Nkabane confident in new SETA appointments amid public scrutiny

HIGHER Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has defended the now-cancelled Sector and Education Training Authorities (SETA) appointments, saying the recommended candidates were academically qualified.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

“We decided to recalibrate the process, not because there was something wrong with the process that was conducted by the independent panel. It is only because we are responding to the outcry of society hence we are a responsive government, as the ANC.

“We felt it was very important for us to be responsive and listen to the citizens when they cry to say they feel the calibre of the candidates is more politically heavy. So we had to respond, not that there is any legislation we contravened,” Nkabane said.

Responding to questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday, the minister said she is confident that the restarted process to appoint chairpersons of boards of directors of SETA will not again attract an outcry from the public.

Nkabane said she will stick to legislative imperatives and has instructed the panel, independent of handling the nominations and recommendations, to ensure that the list of recommended candidates is not bloated with politically exposed persons.