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Mail & Guardian
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Malatji: Nkabane ‘cowardly' for withdrawing ANC linked appointments as Seta board chairs
ANC Youth League President Collen Malatji (@ANCYLhq) 'If I were her, I would not have withdrawn those appointments of chairpersons. She has weakened herself and will never appoint anyone again. What she did is cowardly,' Malatji told the Mail & Guardian . He said cabinet ministers and deputy ministers considered to be part of the youth in the ANC should only fear him, as ANC youth league leader, and not opposition parties. 'They are my deployments, and the only person they must fear is me. They must consult me on everything. Luthuli House is open for them to come and we will defend them, because there is nothing wrong with deploying qualified people who are aligned with the ANC,' he said. Nkabane faced criticism in May over her appointment list, which included Buyambo Mantashe, the son of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister In parliament, Nkabane refused to give the names of members of the independent panel that selected the initial names she had appointed for the Seta positions. In a statement on Tuesday, Nkabane said she had disclosed a members panel for the selection and recommendation of Seta board chairs to the portfolio committee on higher education and training and was ready to account to the committee and to respond to further requests for information. In a separate statement, also on Tuesday, the chairperson of the committee, Tebogo Letsie, welcomed the submission of a letter containing the names of panel members appointed to oversee the selection and recommendation of board chairpersons for the Seta boards. The panel members are Terry Motau (chairperson), Asisipho Solani, Nelisiwe Semane, Mabuza Ngubane and Rhulani Ngwenya. The committee said that it had consistently held the view that Nkabane was constitutionally obligated to disclose the names of the panel members to parliament. 'We are pleased that sanity has prevailed, and that the minister has now complied with this requirement. The committee believes this disclosure should have occurred from the outset,' said Letsie. 'We are dealing with public institutions funded through parliamentary appropriations. It was therefore baffling that the committee had to strongly remind the minister of such a basic accountability requirement in our democratic governance system.' During a meeting of the higher education committee last month, Malatji told the M&G that he would never have withdrawn the appointments, asserting that opposition parties have created a false narrative that anyone associated with the ANC is corrupt. 'The ANC contests elections to control power, and every party wants control. This is why parties, including the 'I will never withdraw appointments. You make a decision as a leader, and you stick by it. Why is she apologising for powers given to her? Those people meet the criteria; they are qualified and everything. Anyway, the most educated people are in the ANC, not the DA or EFF.' Malatji said he considered Buyambo Mantashe as having an unfair advantage and would never have considered him for the post. 'Mantashe's child is something else. I was never going to appoint Mantashe's child because he is a minister — not that he is not qualified or not a comrade, but morally wrong,' he said. 'Unfortunately, when your father is a minister or president, you lose certain privileges in life. You can't compete with a child of a president; it is an unfair competition.' On calls for Nkabane to be removed from her position, Malatji said she was a good and qualified minister who had been caught off guard. 'She is good for the sector and is also learning higher education needs a person like her,' he said. 'She is not doing badly; just a few things, small things, and over time, she does not consult the youth league, which gets her into trouble.'
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
‘We should be grateful we have a government that listens': Ramaphosa says Seta board appointments a ‘mistake'
The appointment of Seta board members triggered widespread criticism this week. President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberley, Northern Cape on 16 May 2025. Picture: X / @MYANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded to the withdrawal of Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairperson appointments, following significant public backlash. Earlier this week, a leaked list of new appointments revealed several ANC members were included. Among the most controversial was the appointment of Buyambo Mantashe, the son of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, as chairperson of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Seta (MERSETA) board. This led to public outcry about nepotism and corruption. Seta board appointments controversy The Democratic Alliance (DA) had written to the chairperson of the Higher Education Portfolio Committee, demanding clarity and accountability on the matter. Tensions escalated during a parliamentary committee meeting on Wednesday, where Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Sihle Lonzi was forcibly removed after challenging Buyambo Mantashe's appointment. Following the controversy, Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane announced the withdrawal of all appointments and confirmed that the selection process would be restarted. ALSO READ: Higher education minister withdraws appointment of Seta board chairpersons An independent panel will now be formed to oversee fresh nominations and recommend suitable candidates. According to Nkabane, the revised process will focus on merit, competencies, and relevant experience, while also ensuring balanced representation in terms of race, gender, youth, and persons with disabilities. 🇿🇦Higher Ed Minister Nkabane appoints KZN ANC cadres and Mantashe's son to SETA Boards (see list below). These appointments raise serious concerns about the politicisation of institutions meant to serve all South Africans. SETAs are not ANC cadre deployment havens, nor should… — Karabo Khakhau MP (@KaraboKhakhau) May 13, 2025 Ramaphosa reacts Speaking to the media after attending an ANC event in Kimberley, Northern Cape on Friday, President Ramaphosa described the situation as a 'mistake' that is now being addressed. 'There was a problem, an issue which the minister is trying to correct now and I think it's important to realise that where, for instance, the public sector mistakes are made, immediately we are able to listen to the criticism, the voices of those in the community and immediately take corrective measures. So that's what this is. 'We should also be grateful that we have a government that listens even where it has made mistakes. Mistakes are made and the important thing is to listen and to correct,' the president said. READ MORE: More than half of university students rely on Nsfas Fedusa supports Seta boards withdrawal The Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) has expressed support for the decision to withdraw the appointments. The union stated that its affiliate, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), had previously raised serious concerns with Minister Nkabane regarding the apparent lack of transparency in the appointment process. 'Fedusa's support for NTEU's position highlights the need for transparency and accountability in these institutions, so that Setas can play their part in developing skills in South Africa,' the organisation said in a statement. 'Ensuring an open and credible appointment process will not only restore public trust but highlights the demand for transparency and accountability, not just in these institutions, but as a fundamental value that South Africa must insist on without fear or favour.' Fedusa further emphasised that transparency and accountability should be foundational principles, rather than being in 'a climate of constant damage control and picking up the pieces of falling confidence'. NOW READ: Frustration mounts as higher education websites remain offline for days
The Herald
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Higher education minister withdraws recently appointed Seta board chairs
Higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane on Thursday withdrew the appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairpersons with immediate effect. She said the decision was taken after broader consultations with stakeholders in the post school education and training sector and their counsel regarding the appointments. A leaked list of new appointments to Seta boards sparked a public debate after the revelation that Buyambo Mantashe, son of ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe, had been named chairperson of the merSETA board. The list identifies him with the notable credential: 'Son of ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe'. 'I have taken the decision to withdraw previous appointments in response to public concerns,' Nkabane said. She called on all relevant constituencies to nominate candidates. She said the integrity of the process for appointments will be made in terms of the guidelines outlined in the Skills Development Act, as amended. 'Further, I take this decision in the interest of good governance and transparency to ensure accountability of the appointment process. In this regard I will reopen the process by issuing a government gazette calling for nominations for a limited run of seven days.' She will also establish a new independent panel to process the nominations and recommend candidates. 'The process will put emphasis on merit, competencies and relevant experiences, with balanced representations in terms of race, gender, youth and persons with disabilities. Similar to the previous process, all recommended candidates will have to pass the necessary screening and vetting processes.' Nkabane, 'i n the interest of transparency and good governance', presented the data of qualifications of the previously recommended board chairs. 'From 20 Seta board chairs previously recommended, there were three doctoral degrees (NQF level 10), at least 15 Master's degrees (NQF 09) and two medical doctors.' Among others, their competencies ranged from engineers to chartered accountants, auditors, advocates, medical doctors and governance experts. 'It is my intention to present new board chairs in the shortest time possible.' TimesLIVE
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Nkabane withdraws SETA board appointments amid nepotism outcry
Buyambo Mantashe, son of Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, was among the figures named in the scrapped SETA board appointments. Image: Supplied Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane has withdrawn the recent appointments of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board chairpersons, including several individuals linked to the ANC. These included Buyambo Mantashe, the son of Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, and former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube. The move follows a heated parliamentary session on Wednesday in which Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Sihle Lonzi was forcibly removed after questioning Mantashe's appointment to the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (MERSETA) board. "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," Nkabane said in a statement. She has called on relevant constituencies to nominate new candidates and committed 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. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The process will be reopened via a Government Gazette calling for nominations for a period of seven days. A new independent panel will be established to review nominations and make recommendations. Nkabane said the new process would prioritise merit, competencies and relevant experience, while ensuring balanced representation in terms of race, gender, youth and persons with disabilities. All candidates will be subject to screening and vetting. "In the interest of transparency and good governance, I feel it is necessary to present the data on the qualifications of previously recommended board chairs," she said. Of the 20 previously recommended candidates, three held doctoral degrees (NQF Level 10), at least 15 held master's degrees (NQF Level 9), and two were medical doctors. Their expertise spanned engineering, accountancy, law, medicine and governance. "It is my intention to present new board chairs in the shortest time possible," Nkabane added. What happened in Parliament? During a portfolio committee meeting on Wednesday, Lonzi was ejected by parliamentary security after clashing with committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie. In a video shared on social media, Lonzi is seen challenging Department of Higher Education and Training director-general Dr Nkosinathi Sishi over the appointments, demanding answers on alleged political interference. "DG, have you made appointments to the board chairpersons of SETAs?" Lonzi asked. Letsie responded that the question had already been addressed prior to Lonzi's arrival and was outside Sishi's mandate, falling under Minister Nkabane's authority. As tensions escalated, Lonzi accused Letsie of protecting the director-general from accountability. "You are becoming his lawyer," he said. Letsie then ordered Lonzi's removal. As he was escorted out, Lonzi shouted: "You're protecting corruption? Why am I being chased out? Because the chairperson is protecting corruption? The son of Gwede Mantashe, a minister, gets appointed to a SETA board. I ask a question, and then I must be chased out?" The leaked list Among the withdrawn appointments were: Buyambo Mantashe – Chairperson, MERSETA board (son of Minister Gwede Mantashe) Nomusa Dube-Ncube – Chairperson, BANKSETA board (former KZN premier) Siboniso Mbhele – Appointee to the TETA board (head of KZN Department of Transport) Loyiso Masuku – Appointee to the FOODBEV board (ANC deputy regional secretary, Johannesburg) IOL Politics
IOL News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Leaked list reveals ANC figures and minister's son appointed to SETA board
A leaked list of new appointments to Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) boards has sparked a political outcry, as prominent ANC-linked individuals — including Mineral Minister Gwede Mantashe's son, Buyambo Mantashe, and former KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube — have been tapped to lead these influential institutions. The appointments were made by Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Nobuhle Nkabane. DA national spokesperson, Karabo Khakhau, condemned the appointments, describing them as blatant 'political patronage' and warning against the growing politicisation of public institutions. 'These appointments raise serious concerns about the politicisation of institutions meant to serve all South Africans. SETAs are not ANC cadre deployment havens, nor should they be misused as rewards for political loyalty,' Khakhau said. According to the leaked list: - Buyambo Mantashe has been appointed Chairperson of the MERSETA Board. - Nomusa Dube-Ncube will head the BANKSETA Board. - Siboniso Mbhele, Head of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, joins the TETA Board. - Loyiso Masuku, ANC deputy regional secretary in Johannesburg and MMC for Corporate Services in the City of Johannesburg, is appointed to the FOODBEV Board.
