Minister Nkabane fails to submit names of panel that oversaw controversial Seta board appointments
Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane has missed a deadline to reveal the names of an independent panel that endorsed the appointments of politically connected Seta board chairpersons.
Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane was asked to submit the names of the Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) Board Chairpersons Selection and Evaluation Panel to the parliamentary committee on higher education on 11 June 2025.
The five-member panel was responsible for the selection process in the appointment of 21 chairpersons for Seta boards in May. The committee requested the names of the panel after it was discovered that ANC politicians had been selected, including Gwede Mantashe's son, Buyambo Mantashe, who has been appointed chairperson of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Seta.
Also named are former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and ex-ANC KZN provincial deputy chairperson Mike Mabuyakhulu.
In a letter seen by Daily Maverick, written by Nkabane to the chairperson of the parliamentary committee Tebogo Letsie, Nkabane has requested an extension of the deadline to 30 June 2025. According to Nkabane, she was concerned over whether the disclosure of the names and details would violate the panellists' rights to privacy. However, she has now recognised that she is legally permitted to disclose the panellists' details.
'I remain concerned that the disclosure may invite unwarranted or unwanted public vitriol against the panel members, as I have experienced… I have written to each of the members of the selection and evaluation panel and advised them of my intention to comply with the portfolio committee's request,' said Nkabane.
Nkabane's response comes after members of the committee and the public raised concerns over the non-disclosure of the selection panellists' names.
The Seta board appointments caused chaos at the committee meeting on 14 May and on 2 June 2025, even leading to the eviction of the EFF's Sihle Lonzi after he questioned Higher Education Department Director-General Dr Nkosinathi Sishi. Lonzi called the Seta board appointments 'corrupt'.
Nkabane had previously said the reversal was solely due to public reaction and that the appointing process had been flawless.
'We saw what was trending on social media… I took it upon myself as a responsible citizen to say, 'Listen, I could pick [up] that among the issues were the recommended candidates to serve as chairs; they are viewed as more politically associated with some of the politicians within the movement, and I decided I must take the concerns of the public,' said Nkabane.
'Time's up' – deadline extension frustrates MPs
Members of the parliamentary committee voiced their frustrations about the minister's request for a deadline extension. Karabo Khakhau (DA) said this was completely unacceptable.
'Minister Nkabane needs no permission to furnish the committee with those names if they exist. Secondly, the minister has had more than enough time to receive permission from the panel to reveal their names. The minister's time is now up. There is no more room to manoeuvre. The committee has exhausted its generosity. Minister Nkabane cannot run away from being held accountable for her attempted politicisation of the appointment of the Seta board chairpersons. The chickens are coming home to roost,' said Khakhau.
Higher education committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie also expressed disappointment at Nkabane's extension request.
'We … felt we had given her enough time to comply. The committee will meet on Wednesday, 18 June, to pave the way forward on what to do,' said Letsie.
Ramaphosa seeks answers
Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa requested that Nkabane report to him on the matter.
Nkabane drew public ire after videos of her at the meeting chewing gum and being dismissive of MPs' questioning went viral. After the meeting, the minister took to X to explain herself.
'Claims that I was rude or disrespectful are false and based on misleading clips taken out of context. I did not disrupt the process,' she wrote.
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