More vigilance required after Seta debacle

News24

18-05-2025

On Thursday, Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane was forced to make a hasty retreat after her department loaded the appointment of Seta chairpersons with ANC loyalists, in what appeared to be a Luthuli House capture of the institutions.
Nkabane was forced to backtrack and cancel the appointments of 21 chairs and members. The minister said:
Following broader consultations with stakeholders in the post-school education and training sector and their counsel regarding the appointment of the chairpersons of the boards of Setas, I have decided to recalibrate the process, which was overseen by an independent panel.
She has called on relevant constituencies to nominate new candidates and commit to ensuring that appointments are made in line with the Skills Development Act.
'I have taken the decision to withdraw previous appointments in response to public concerns. Further, I take this decision in the interest of good governance and transparency, to ensure accountability in the appointment process,' she said.
But the truth is that she was forced to take this step after massive public pressure after even her ANC colleagues were shocked at the blatant politically partisan appointments to the institutions that help refine students with skills needed in the workplace.
The initial concern from opposition parties was about Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe's son Buyambo, who was appointed as chair of the manufacturing, engineering and related services Seta.
But it later transpired that more ANC heavyweights littered the appointments.
They included:
Former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, appointed as chairperson of the Bank Seta;
KwaZulu-Natal ANC Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Amanda Mapena, appointed as chair of the quality council for the trades an soccupation Seta; and
ANC MMC in the Johannesburg council Loyiso Masuku, appointed as chair of FoodBev Manufacturing Seta.
This list goes on, revealing that ANC members occupy positions in 21 Setas. All these appointments would have been approved by Nkabane.
They point to a capture of these institutions to use them to benefit ANC members. This is what the ANC has got away with for years – capturing institutions to use them to fund activities such as conferences and election campaigns.
When EFF MP Sihle Lonzi tried to question the director-general of the department of higher education in the National Assembly on Wednesday, he was shut down by committee chair Tebogo Letsie, and was eventually bundled out of the committee meeting by parliamentary security.
This is a reminder once again that the ANC is a syndicate in which members not only engage in improper behaviour but are also able to get other members in influential positions to shield them from accountability. But, in the end, the people are the victors because the minister capitulated to public pressure.
However, the whole exercise calls for South Africans to be even more vigilant in protecting our institutions.