Nkabane shrugs off legal opinion to protect Seta panellists

Embattled Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has shrugged off a legal opinion she obtained which guides her to publicly name the panellists involved in the appointment of chairpersons of the Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta).

- By Queenin Masuabi

Nkabane has instead offered the unnamed penellists an opportunity to consent to or reject the disclosure of their identities.

The five-member panel was responsible for the selection process in the appointment of 21 chairpersons for Seta boards in May. The minister this week raised concerns about the negative backlash that could affect the members of the panel, which was part of appointing politically connected persons as Seta chairs. "The legal advice confirmed that I am under a legal obligation to disclose the names and details of the panel members to the Portfolio Committee," Nkabane told Sunday World yesterday.

But, she added, the decision to disclose the panel members’ information may adversely affect the panelists’ rights. “As such, it is only rational and procedurally fair to afford the panel members an opportunity to be heard prior to disclosing their names.”