ANC scrambles to save Manamela from Seta storm

Party study group held damage-control session in Cape Town

- By Queenin Masuabi

Behind closed doors last Friday evening in Cape Town, a secretive ANC parliamentary study group scrambled to draft scenario plans in a desperate bid to shield higher education minister Buti Manamela from a looming political and legal backlash.

The urgent meeting, described by insiders as a damage-control session, focused on the outcry over Manamela’s contentious decision to place Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) under administration -a move that has drawn criticism and sparked court challenges.

Sources present at the meeting revealed to Sunday World that the group was deeply concerned about the possibility of Manamela losing the legal battles against the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) at the Labour Court. Sunday World also understands that Local Government Seta (LGSe-ta) also took Manamela to the Labour Court. Such defeats, it feared, could not only unravel the minister's position but also further erode the ANC’s credibility.

During the meeting, Manamela acknowledged to ANC MPs that “the cases could go either way”, but insisted that his department had followed all due processes. However, he also admitted that the department has yet to file any responding legal documents, as they are still seeking legal counsel.