Minister's misstep demands accountability
Minister Nkabane's false claim involving Terry Motau warrants more than a weak apology—it warrants her resignation.
Dr Nobuhle Nkabane ( Minister of Higher Education and Training) at the official launch of the National Skills Fund (NSF) Disabilities Programme Phase I at Blind SA on November 29, 2024 in Alberton, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi)
Elon Musk's rocket business SpaceX is in the lead in the 'Euphemism of the Year' contest, with its phrase 'rapid unscheduled disassembly' to describe the explosion and disintegration of one of its launchers.
But hot on its heels comes Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, who says that announcing respected advocate Terry Motau as the person who chaired a panel which made controversial Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board appointments was a 'misunderstanding'.
The crossed wires have, according to her office, been 'constructively resolved with mutual understanding between both parties'.
The reality is that Motau was never the head of any such panel – as he himself made plain in a forthright statement.
ALSO READ: Higher education minster accused of covering up tender irregularities — report
The Seta board appointments caused public outrage last month when several appointees were revealed to be ANC members, or had connections to the party.
Initially, Nkabane refused to name the panel that assisted her when frustrated MPs demanded transparency … and then she tossed in Motau's name.
His anger – and her awkward apology – must raise questions about whether Motau's name was cynically used to give legitimacy to an entirely dodgy process.
More than that, though, the real question for the minister is: why have you not done the honourable thing and resigned?
NOW READ: No party favourites: Minister defends appointment of Mantashe's son to Seta board
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
16 hours ago
- The Citizen
‘You must fire Nkabane': Nkabane misled Parliament, say MPs calling for dismissal
Nkabane allegedly lied about the Seta board panel, prompting MPs to demand her immediate removal. Dr Nobuhle Nkabane ( Minister of Higher Education and Training) at the official launch of the National Skills Fund (NSF) Disabilities Programme Phase I at Blind SA on November 29, 2024 in Alberton, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi) Amid rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle, President Cyril Ramaphosa is under pressure to fire Minister of Higher Education and Training Nobuhle Nkabane. Nkabane 'lied' to parliament about the appointment of the Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairs and 'must be fired', DA MP and portfolio committee member of education, Karabo Khakhau, told Ramaphosa in no uncertain terms. 'Mr President, you have a lying minister in your Cabinet, who has been caught red-handed. 'It's time to fire Nkabane with immediate effect' 'It is time for you to fire Minister Nobuhle Nkabane with immediate effect and to replace her with a minister committed to making higher education work, not committed to making work for ANC insiders.' Khakhau said. Nkabane 'misled' parliament by providing false information about the procedure for appointing the Seta chairs – a list dominated by ANC cadres – and the composition of the panel that appointed the chairs. The minister was questioned by the portfolio committee on the composition of the panel tasked to appoint the chairs and got into hot water when she told the committee advocate Terry Motau chaired the process. ALSO READ: 'Reputational discomfort': Minister apologises to Advocate Motau over Seta panel claim Motau this week denied he chaired the process, nor was he officially appointed as the panel chair. Khakhau was responsible for blowing the whistle on Nkabane's list of board chairs, that included former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa-Ncube and former KZN MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu. Besides ANC senior members, at least half of the list are individuals from KwaZulu-Natal, Nkabane's home province. Mantashe's son a chair for boards But it was her inclusion of Buyambo Mantashe, son of Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe as chair of one of the boards, that raised red flags. Mantashe senior was Nkabane's boss when she was deputy minister of mineral resources and energy between 2021 and 2024. Khakhau told Ramaphosa: 'She has used a strategy of lying to parliament to try and cover up her tracks, after she made a brazen ANC cadre deployment appointment to the boards of Seta. ALSO READ: 'We are not xenophobic': No justification to favour foreign academics over South Africans, says ANC MP 'South Africans were rightfully outraged about this. 'Once exposed and once public pressure mounted, Nkabane made an effective admission to her infringements by withdrawing the appointments.' Khakhau was joined by uMkhonto weSizwe party MP Mnqobi Msezane, who called for Nkabane's head, saying she is not fit to hold the position. Serious level of incompetence Nkabane displayed a serious level of incompetence, Msezane said. The minister has since admitted her wrongdoing, including her claim that Motau chaired the panel. She apologised to Motau, calling it a 'misunderstanding'. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni did not dismiss rumours about a Cabinet restructuring, except to say she was not aware of them. NOW READ: R27k in cash found in Walter Sisulu University deputy vice-chancellor's car after fatal shooting
The Herald
18 hours ago
- The Herald
'Time to fire Nkabane': DA MP Khakhau writes to Ramaphosa amid Seta board woes
'Once exposed, and once public pressure mounted, Nkabane made an effective admission of her infringements by withdrawing the appointments. Her ANC cadre deployment had been exposed, roundly criticised and she had to admit defeat.' In the list of the panel members, Nkabane falsely claimed legal expert advocate Terry Motau was part of the it. She later apologised, saying it was a misunderstanding. Khakhau said other members on the list were not independent. 'Some are on the payroll of her department and two are political appointments, including a chief of staff, in the office of the ANC minister.' Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa has not yet received the letter from Khakhau. He added MPs do not have the power to demand that Ramaphosa fire Nkabane. 'MPs do not get to direct the president on how to manage and lead the executive,' Magwenya told TimesLIVE. 'The principle of separation of powers of the three independent arms of the state must be respected. 'The president has asked for a report from Nkabane, the matter is being attended to. Therefore there's no need for letters urging the president to act on a matter he is attending to.' TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- TimesLIVE
'It's time to fire minister Nkabane': DA MP Khakhau writes open letter to Ramaphosa amid Seta board woes
DA MP Karabo Khakhau has written an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa urging him to fire higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane over the controversial appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairpersons, which were withdrawn after public backlash. There have been growing calls from other MPs to have Nkabane removed as minister. 'Mr President, you have a lying minister in your cabinet who has been caught red-handed,' Khakhau said in the letter. 'It is time for you to fire Nkabane with immediate effect and to replace her with a minister committed to making higher education work, not committed to making work for ANC insiders.' Nkabane allegedly misled MPs about an 'independent panel' she claimed had approved politically connected individuals for Seta boards. 'She has used a strategy of lying to parliament to try to cover her tracks after she made brazen ANC cadre deployment appointments to the Seta boards. South Africans were rightfully outraged about this. 'Once exposed, and once public pressure mounted, Nkabane made an effective admission of her infringements by withdrawing the appointments. Her ANC cadre deployment had been exposed, roundly criticised and she had to admit defeat.' In the list of the panel members, Nkabane falsely claimed legal expert advocate Terry Motau was part of the it. She later apologised, saying it was a misunderstanding. Khakhau said other members on the list were not independent. 'Some are on the payroll of her department and two are political appointments, including a chief of staff, in the office of the ANC minister.' Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa has not yet received the letter from Khakhau. He added MPs do not have the power to demand that Ramaphosa fire Nkabane. 'MPs do not get to direct the president on how to manage and lead the executive,' Magwenya told TimesLIVE. 'The principle of separation of powers of the three independent arms of the state must be respected. 'The president has asked for a report from Nkabane, the matter is being attended to. Therefore there's no need for letters urging the president to act on a matter he is attending to.'
