DA: Dismiss minister over Seta scandal

The party has accused higher education’s Nobuhle Nkabane of misleading parliament and violating the executive ethics code by fabricating the legitimacy of the selection process of Seta boards

- Mandisa Nyathi

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has renewed its call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane after revelations that four out of six people listed as members of a panel that advised her on Sector Education and Training Authorities (Seta) board appointments have denied any involvement.

This latest development has intensified scrutiny of Nkabane’s role in appointing members to the Seta boards, which manage billions in public skills funding. The DA accused her of misleading parliament and violating the executive ethics code by fabricating the legitimacy of the selection process.

In May, Nkabane submitted a list of panel members to parliament in response to mounting pressure to explain how the Seta boards were constituted. The list was presented as evidence that an independent and credible process had been followed.

But the people named as part of that panel, including advocate Terry Motau, Nkabane’s chief of staff Nelisiwe Semane, and deputy director general for corporate service Rhulani Ngwenya have since confirmed they never consented to serve on, nor participated in, the panel.

In a letter to Tebogo Letsie, the chairperson of parliament’s portfolio committee on higher education, Semane said her name appeared on the panel members list for the chairpersons' selection and recommendation because the minister had submitted a list that included all the panels that she had appointed since taking office.