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IOL News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
MPs push for Nkabane's return to Parliament to explain why she picked ANC allies to SETAs
MPs want fired Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane to appear before Parliament to explain what led her to appoint ANC allies to the SETA board. Image: GCIS Members of Parliament (MPs) are considering calling the now-fired Higher Education Minister, Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, in her capacity as a private member, to explain what led her to appoint ANC-linked members to the controversial SETA boards. Nkabane was fired on Monday by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa has since appointed her deputy, Buti Manamela, as Minister of Higher Education and Training, with Dr. Nomusa Dube-Ncube named as deputy minister. The reshuffle follows intense scrutiny of Nkabane's alleged role in misleading Parliament about the appointment process of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board members. The appointments included individuals closely tied to the African National Congress (ANC), such as Buyambo Mantashe, son of Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, and Dube-Ncube. Last month, Ramaphosa requested a formal report from Nkabane regarding her conduct. Even though Nkabane maintained that the appointments were lawful, opposition parties accused her of undermining transparency. The Department of Higher Education and Training is currently briefing the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education on the alleged 'independent panel' for the selection and recommendation of SETA board appointments under Nkabane. 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. 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. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading IOL reported that Nkabane came under fire again after failing to appear before Parliament to account for the controversial appointments, which included several ANC allies. Instead, she attended a gender-based violence (GBV) event at a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college in the Eastern Cape. Nkabane sent a last-minute apology to the portfolio committee, citing the GBV event as the reason for her absence. Her apology was rejected by committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie. 'After receiving the letter, I told her I am not accepting her apology,' Letsie said. 'It does not make sense for her to be absent from the meeting.' Nkabane had been expected to brief MPs on the SETA board selection process, which was recently reversed. Although she previously told MPs the selections were made by an 'independent' panel chaired by Advocate Terry Motau, Motau later denied any involvement. Other members of the selection panel included her chief of staff, Nelisiwe Semane, and adviser Asisipho Solani, both of whom were absent from the previous meeting but have not attended the meeting. Deputy Director-General Rhulani Ngwenya and Director-General Nkosinathi Sishi also failed to attend the meeting. Letsie said while the committee welcomed Nkabane's removal, it would make little sense to have panelists read their statements into the record without allowing Nkabane a right of reply. He said they thanked the panelists for attending and released them before proceeding to the next part of the meeting. However, MPs disagreed with this move and voiced their legal concerns. Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) MP Sanele Zondo said it was unfair to block members from expressing concerns. 'I think we got into this matter because there was a public outcry for some inconsistencies and the feeling that processes were flawed,' Zondo said. 'When we were deliberating, it was whether she lied under oath or misinterpreted the facts.' He added that key players who influenced the minister were present and should be held accountable. Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Karabo Khakhau demanded to see the legal opinion the committee was relying on. 'Once we all have that, I will call for a caucus break for all parties to consult their legal opinions,' she said. 'There's nothing stopping us from engaging Solani, Ngwenya, and the whole lot. There's also nothing stopping this committee from calling Nobuhle Nkabane back in her capacity as a private citizen to account for the role she played.' DA MP Désirée van der Walt said: 'Every single person we summoned to appear before the committee was summoned based on their role. It has nothing to do with the previous minister or the new minister. Those who are present must present, and those who are not must still be called to do so. We are not going to let it go.' Patriotic Alliance (PA) MP Ashley Sauls said: 'The answer is yes, the former minister must be held accountable. The question is whether that accountability should continue in this committee. There are other parliamentary processes where she can appear.' Letsie reiterated that because Nkabane is no longer part of the executive, she falls outside the committee's jurisdiction. 'Whether she lied or not, there's nothing we will do because she's no longer in our space,' he said. 'There's a different committee that can now deal with that issue - the Ethics Committee.' Parliamentary legal adviser Phumelela Ngema said there was nothing wrong with members calling on Nkabane to account. 'Chairperson, there is definitely nothing wrong with what the members have indicated in respect of their oversight functions,' she said. 'However, there is a difference between the purpose and the actual intention of the meeting today.' She clarified that the department is still accountable to Parliament, but Nkabane no longer falls under Section 92 of the Constitution, which governs Cabinet accountability. IOL Politics
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Vuma FM responds to Jacinta Ngobese's dismissal claims
Jancita joined Vuma FM in 2019. Vuma FM has responded to claims by presenter Jacinta Ngobese, who alleged that the station unfairly dismissed her. Ngobese released a statement this week, claiming the station terminated her contract without explanation. She said she was informed that her employment would be terminated, with her final day scheduled for 31 July. 'In 2019, I joined Vuma FM and over the years worked on several time slots, including The Drive and The Cruise. I served the station with dedication, commitment and tenacity, and rejected many offers primarily because Vuma FM was my second home. She added: 'On Tuesday, 15 July, I received a letter from my employer, terminating my employment contract without any reasons given to me. It has come to my attention that a complaint was brought by an external entity and/or individual. I shall not deal with the details of that complaint at this stage.' ALSO READ: Minnie Dlamini out as Selbeyonce returns to Gagasi FM Vuma FM 'sets the record straight' In a statement issued on Monday, Vuma FM clarified that Ngobese was not dismissed but the station did not renew her contract. 'The recent decision made by Vuma FM not to renew Mrs Ngobese-Zuma's contract as presenter is not a dismissal but a natural conclusion of an independent contractor's term. 'All of our presenter contracts are subject to annual renewal at the station's discretion, a standard practice in our industry.' The station added that the decision formed part of internal line-up changes. 'Vuma FM made the line-up changes based on internal, annual evaluation and not influenced by any external party. We would like to thank Mrs Ngobese-Zuma for her contribution to the station and wish her well in the future.' NOW READ: Gospel star Xolisa Kwinana arrested for alleged GBV
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Manamela steps in as Nkabane gets the boot
Political parties have expressed approval of the decision to remove Dr Nobuhle Nkabane from her role as Minister of Higher Education and Training. One party has accused her of showing an "unrepentant disregard for what it means to serve the people of South Africa." Nkabane found herself at the centre of a parliamentary storm when she failed to attend a crucial meeting of the portfolio committee on Friday. The portfolio committee had invited Nkabane and the panel members who recommended the now-cancelled appointments of the chairpersons for the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) boards. Advocate Terry Motau and Chief Director for SETA Coordination, Mabuza Ngubane, attended the meeting, but Nkabane was notably absent. Also present were Deputy Ministers Buti Manamela and Mimmy Gondwe, whom the committee wanted to question about their roles in the appointments. However, in a swift response to recent controversies, President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Manamela as the new Minister of Higher Education and Training. The decision follows Nkabane's ousting, which she announced in a brief statement on Monday afternoon. Nkabane expressed her gratitude to President Ramaphosa for the opportunity to serve in such a critical role, stating, "I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, for entrusting me with the responsibility to serve as Minister of Higher Education and Training." Minutes after her statement, Ramaphosa announced Manamela's appointment as well as Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, who will be serving as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training. The reshuffling comes as Nkabane faced intense scrutiny, particularly for her alleged misleading of Parliament regarding the process of appointing the SETA board members. Reports emerged indicating that the list of appointees was heavily influenced by affiliations with the African National Congress (ANC), incorporating figures such as Buyambo, the son of Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe. Last week, Nkabane came under fire after failing to appear before Parliament to account for the controversial appointments. She instead opted to attend a GBV event in the Eastern Cape. Nkabane sent a last-minute apology to the portfolio committee, citing a gender-based violence (GBV) event at a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college in the Eastern Cape as the reason for her absence. Her apology was rejected by committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie. Letsie said after receiving the letter, he told Nkabane that he is not accepting her apology because it does not make sense for her to be absent from the meeting. Nkabane was expected to brief members again on the SETA board selection process, which was eventually reversed. Many of the appointees were allegedly linked to the ANC, which raised concerns over political interference and nepotism. Although Nkabane previously told MPs that the selections were made by an 'independent' panel chaired by Advocate Terry Motau, Motau denied any involvement. Political parties were quick in their response to Nkabane's axing. Welcoming the removal of Nkabane, RISE Mzansi said: ''Nkabane epitomised political arrogance and showed an unrepentant disregard for what it means to be in service to the people of South Africa. While she no longer serves as a member of the Executive, she must still be held accountable by the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests for misleading Parliament and the people of South Africa. ''We trust that long-serving Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, who has been elevated to the position of Minister, will bring much needed stability and humility to the portfolio, while ensuring that its R142-billion budget contributes to educating and training a new generation of leaders who will create jobs, build the economy and contribute to the intellectual and knowledge base of the country.'' Calling Nkabane's removals a ''stunning blow against ANC cadre corruption,'' DA National Spokesperson, Karabo Khakhau, said: ''Seeing one ANC Minister depart Cabinet under storming clouds of lies, deceit, cadre deployment corruption and a Hawks Investigation is a first step to restoring our faith that the GNU will not tolerate corruption. ''Our demand to President Ramaphosa was for him to take action against the seriously compromised, corrupt and nefarious in the ANC, and the firing of Nkabane is the first step for him.'' uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party said in a statement that the removal of Nkabane was "necessary and long overdue". "The former Minister's failure to account for the irregular and unlawful allocation of Sector Education and Training Authority board positions raised serious questions about the so-called Government of National Unity's governance, their lack of transparency and the severe political interference that has become quite characteristic of the former liberation movement." I IOL News Additional Reporting by Staff Reporter
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Support food and sanitary drive
The Humanity Foundation is heading back to one of its most-loved venues, PnP Towers, and this time, the call is louder than ever: support women and NPOs in need. In preparation for Women's Month, the foundation will host a Food and Sanitary Drive on July 26 at 09:00, aimed at collecting essentials for women in need, particularly those affected by gender-based violence. According to founder Pierre Marneweck, the drive is more than just a charitable act- it's about restoring dignity and showing solidarity with the organisations on the front lines. 'We need your support, so that we can support our NPOs, especially those who take care of women and provide safety for GBV survivors,' he said. The drive calls for donations of non-perishable food, sanitary products, toiletries, and personal care essentials. Every donation counts. Attendees can expect a day of open hearts, community spirit, and meaningful giving. A warm, welcoming atmosphere will make it a day to remember- all in the spirit of unity and compassion. 'Let's unite on a day of fun, entertainment and open hearts, caring for those in our community.' For more information, contact Pierre on 082 610 7593. Also Read: Humanity foundation makes a birthday wish come true Also Read: Humanity Foundation celebrates another year of making a difference At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Defiant Nkabane snubs higher education committee meeting
She said she would attend a cabinet committee meeting on progress made to resolve National Student Financial Aid Scheme challenges and later fly to the Eastern Cape to attend a gender-based violence (GBV) awareness campaign. "Allow me to tender my apology to you and the entire committee in this regard," Nkabane wrote. Letsie said he responded on the same day, making clear her apology was not accepted. He told her the meeting of the committee was a priority. "The Constitution mandates that members of the cabinet are accountable, collectively and individually, to parliament for their actions. Your presence in the meeting on Friday is critical for the committee to fulfill its constitutional oversight mandate. "I request that you kindly reconsider your decision not to attend the meeting on July 18 based on the matters raised above. It is not my intention to seek alternative means within the legislative framework to compel you to come to the meeting," Letsie wrote to Nkabane. He said she wrote back on Thursday requesting that he reconsider his decision. She claimed she was required to attend a stakeholder engagement focused on GBV prevention and awareness and leadership capacity development within the higher education and training sector. "The GBV engagement involving student leaders, institutions, civil society organisations and the department addresses one of the most serious and systemic challenges affecting our post schooling institution, specially young women. "The minister made the prevention of GBV a strategic and moral priority within the post school education and training sector, consistent with government's broader commitment. I acknowledge and do not diminish the importance of the committee's follow up deliberations concerning the appointment process of SETA accounting authority chairperson. I remain ready to appear to clarify and fully account on the matter," she said when requesting an alternative date for the committee sitting. Nkabane said her request was made in good faith and not as an act of avoidance. She said should the committee feel compelled to explore the use of other mechanisms, such as a subpoena, she requested that it note the public expenditure committed towards the GBV programme would be rendered wasteful. "An outcome I believe we all seek to avoid," she said.
