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Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Ramaphosa demands answers from Minister Nkabane over Seta appointments and conduct in Parliament
President Ramaphosa expects that members of the executive 'conduct themselves professionally, transparently and cordially in engaging with Parliament and other accountability structures', says the Presidency. President Cyril Ramaphosa has requested Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane to report to him about her recent behaviour in Parliament and contentious Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board appointments that have since been withdrawn. 'President Ramaphosa has noted the content from and media commentary on the appearance of the Honourable Dr Nobuhle Nkabane before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training on 30 May 2025,' said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya at a press conference at the Union Buildings on Thursday night. 'The President appreciates that what he has seen may not constitute the full scope or context of the engagement, therefore the President has requested that the minister provide him with a detailed report on the decorum and substance of her engagement with Parliament,' he continued. Magwenya said Ramaphosa had also requested a report on 'the process undertaken to appoint the board members to the Sector Education and Training Authority that were at the centre of the portfolio committee's questions'. Nkabane's appearance before Parliament followed leaked information last month about questionable appointments of chairpersons to Seta boards. Among the contentious appointees were Ramaphosa's allies, former KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and former ANC deputy chairperson in KZN Mike Mabuyakhulu, along with Buyambo Mantashe, the son of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, Daily Maverick's Siyabonga Goni reported. The appointments of several ANC associates sparked immediate furore from MPs, who demanded answers. On 16 May, Nkabane announced that she was withdrawing the appointments 'in response to public concerns'. She said she would issue a Government Gazette calling for fresh nominations to the board for a period of seven days. A new independent panel would also be established to process the nominations and recommend candidates, according to Nkabane. Appearing before Parliament's higher education portfolio committee on Friday, 30 May, Nkabane, however, refused to disclose the names of the independent panel members and maintained that there were no flaws in the original appointment process, Daily Maverick reported. Nkabane also drew the ire of the South African public after videos went viral of her seemingly chewing gum and being dismissive of MPs' questioning in the meeting. After the meeting, the minister took to X to explain why she was chewing. '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. 3. Claims that I was rude or disrespectful are false and based on misleading clips taken out of context. I did not disrupt the process. 4. I respect the work of Parliament and remain fully accountable to the Committee and the South African public. — Dr Nobuhle Nkabane (@Dr_NobuhleN) June 1, 2025 On Thursday night, Magwenya said Ramaphosa expected Nkabane to 'establish a constructive relationship with the portfolio committee as she exercises her leadership and accountability. 'The request for the report is in view of the President's expectation that ministers, deputy ministers and senior executives in the public sector conduct themselves professionally, transparently and cordially in engaging with Parliament and other accountability structures. 'The public broadcast of parliamentary proceedings and the viral spread of content from, and public comment on, these proceedings demand that all ministers and senior officials remain conscious of all aspects of their conduct during such proceedings,' he said. Magwenya did not confirm when Nkabane was expected to present her report to Ramaphosa. 'The President is attending to the matter… When it comes to deadlines and the substance of reports, it's often better to just leave it between the President and the minister concerned. Otherwise you're running the risk of the President managing issues with members of his national executive in the public domain, which is not ideal,' he said. In a statement issued on X after Magwenya's briefing, Nkabane acknowledged that the 'situation could have been handled differently'. I have noted the concerns raised by various stakeholders. Upon reflection, and having considered the feedback, I acknowledge that the situation could have been handled differently. I value the critical role of Parliament in providing oversight. — Dr Nobuhle Nkabane (@Dr_NobuhleN) June 5, 2025 'I intend to inculcate and maintain a constructive, respectful, and professional working relationship with all members of Parliament. I remain committed to the principles of accountability, good governance, and cooperative governance as outlined in our Constitution and parliamentary protocols. It was never my intention to evade accountability or undermine the decorum of Parliament,' she said. DM
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Nkabane calls for public nominations for SETA chairpersons following controversial appointments
Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has given the members of the public wishing to make nominations for appointments of the chairpersons of the boards of Sector Education and Training Authorities until June 12. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has called on members of the public to nominate chairpersons for the 21 Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) boards. This call comes hot on the heels of widespread outrage over a leaked list of appointments that saw several ANC-aligned individuals being selected for the key chairperson positions. Among the controversial appointees were former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Buyambo Mantashe, son of ANC national chairperson and Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe. The backlash from civil society and political parties forced Nkabane to withdraw the appointments and initiate a fresh process for nomination. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ At the time of the withdrawal of the appointments earlier this month, Nkabane had undertaken to re-open the nominations for a limited run of seven days and also establish a new independent panel to process the nominations and recommend candidates. In a notice published on Thursday, Nkabane invited nominations for the appointments of chairpersons of the boards for 21 SETAs. 'Interested stakeholders in the relevant sectors are invited to nominate suitably qualified candidates in possession of NQF level 8 qualification coupled with, amongst others, a blend of knowledge, skills, and experience required for the effective functioning of the SETA,' she said. Nkabane also said competent candidates should preferably have an extensive wealth of sectoral knowledge, technical experience, and leadership capability. 'Preference will be given to people with disabilities, youth, and women during the nomination within policy and legislative context.' Nkabane said candidates who were nominated in response to the previous Gazette may be renominated if they are still willing to be considered for appointment as SETA chairpersons. The newly appointed chairpersons will assume their duties from the date of appointment until March 2030. Nkabane said those wishing to make nominations have until June 12. The notice for nominations came days after the Higher Education Portfolio Committee postponed a meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday. The meeting was postponed due to the unavailability of an alternative venue, as the original venue was used as a lock-up facility in preparation for Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's Budget speech. Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie said the meeting was to discuss Nkabane's decision to withdraw the appointments of SETA chairpersons and to restart the appointment process. 'This meeting with the minister is of critical importance. It must take place as soon as possible to ensure the committee fully understands the rationale behind the decision to restart the appointment process,' Letsie said.
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
The ANC's Final Reckoning: A Movement on the Brink of Obsolescence
The writer says that the ANC's current approach to corruption – addressing only the most egregious cases under publice – is no longer sufficient. Image: File Picture The African National Congress (ANC), once the embodiment of South Africa's liberation hopes, now faces an existential crisis of a magnitude unprecedented in its history. The 2024 election results, which forced the ANC into a coalition government for the first time since 1994, were not simply a political setback; they signalled a profound repudiation of the party's three-decade record in power. This moment is not just perilous for the ANC; it is a turning point for South Africa's democracy, testing whether the nation's oldest liberation movement can reinvent itself or will fade into irrelevance. The Collapse of Trust and the Crisis of Legitimacy At the heart of the crisis is a fundamental breakdown of trust between the party and the South African public. The social contract that once bound the ANC to its supporters has been shattered by years of broken promises, endemic corruption, and a leadership culture increasingly focused on personal enrichment rather than public service. The party's share of the national vote plummeted below 50% in 2024; a symbolic and practical collapse of its claim to be the 'natural party of government'. This electoral shock was not an isolated event but the culmination of a long decline. Public disgust with corruption has become pervasive, fuelled by a seemingly endless series of scandals. The recent controversy over Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) appointments is emblematic: regardless of the qualifications of those appointed, the process was tainted by the perception of patronage and factional manipulation, reinforcing the belief that ANC governance is synonymous with self-dealing. 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 ✕ The erosion of trust extends beyond corruption. Years of failed service delivery have left millions trapped in poverty and unemployment, while the ANC's rhetoric of 'radical economic transformation' has become increasingly disconnected from the lived reality of ordinary South Africans. The result is a party that no longer receives the benefit of the doubt; every action is viewed through a lens of suspicion, and every policy announcement is met with scepticism. The Corruption Crisis The institutionalisation of corruption has eroded the party's moral authority and undermined its capacity to govern effectively. The ANC's current approach to corruption – addressing only the most egregious cases under publice – is no longer sufficient. To regain public confidence, the party must adopt a zero-tolerance stance, removing not just those convicted of wrongdoing but anyone whose presence damages the party's credibility. The continued presence of scandal-tainted figures in leadership positions, regardless of faction, undermines any claim to renewal and perpetuates the perception that the ANC is incapable of self-correction. Policy Paralysis and Governance Failures The ANC's inability to deliver on basic governance has become a defining feature of its decline. Service delivery failures are widespread, from unreliable electricity and water supply to failing education and healthcare systems. Eskom, the state power utility, has been plagued by mismanagement and corruption, leading to rolling blackouts that have cost the economy billions and further eroded public trust. In 2023 alone, load shedding was estimated to have cost the country R138 billion in lost productivity. The education system, rather than serving as an equaliser, continues to reproduce apartheid-era inequalities, failing poor black children generation after generation. Crime has become so normalised that South Africans live behind electric fences, with police and intelligence services too under-resourced and politicised to provide basic security. In each of these crises, the ANC's response has been characterised by slogans and blame-shifting rather than substantive solutions, substituting rhetoric for accountability. Factionalism and the Erosion of Leadership Factional battles have consumed the ANC, transforming it from a movement of national purpose into a coalition of competing patronage networks. Internal divisions over leadership and policy direction have led to infighting, leaving the party vulnerable to challenges from opposition forces. The much-publicised battles between ANC factions are not ideological contests about the country's future but struggles over access to state resources and patronage. This factionalism has tragic consequences for governance. While leaders jockey for positions, municipalities collapse, infrastructure decays, and millions of young people face lifetimes of joblessness. The party's inward-looking, oppositional mindset has left it intellectually bankrupt, unable to generate new ideas or address South Africa's mounting challenges. The Rise of Opposition The decline of the ANC has created space for opposition parties like the EFF, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and the DA to mount serious challenges. In the 2019 national elections, the ANC secured just over 57% of the vote – its lowest share since the end of apartheid – and this fell even further in 2024 when the party seismically dipped below the 50% mark. The loss of its parliamentary majority forced the ANC into a coalition government, ending the era of automatic dominance. The coalition government has exposed new vulnerabilities. The ANC's inability to govern unilaterally has required it to engage in power-sharing and compromise, a fundamental shift from its previous approach. Tensions within the coalition, particularly with the DA, have already surfaced, with disputes over fiscal policy and governance priorities threatening the stability of the arrangement. The business community, which had urged the formation of the coalition as a path to stability, now watches anxiously as the government struggles to find common ground. The Missed Opportunities for Reform The ANC's disregard for internal reform efforts has exacerbated its decline. The controversial Turnaround Strategy 2025, developed after the ANC Cadre Summit in 2020 and 2021, was intended as a blueprint for renewal but was rejected as an attempt to unseat Ramaphosa. While never adopted as an official party document, it acknowledged a crisis of legitimacy, credibility, and leadership, warning that the party faced 'a crisis of unimaginable intensity and proportion'. Yet, the leadership failed to implement its recommendations, prioritising personal interests over the collective good. This failure to act on its own diagnosis has left the ANC immobilised, incapable of leading the country out of crisis. Leadership is no longer earned through struggle but 'grabbed through other means', resulting in a party that exists primarily to perpetuate itself. The window for meaningful reform is closing rapidly, with the 2026 local elections looming as the next major test of whether the ANC can reverse its decline. The Economic Dimension: Stagnation and Unemployment South Africa's economic malaise is both a cause and a consequence of the ANC's decline. The unemployment rate has reached historic highs, with over 32% of the population out of work and youth unemployment at a staggering 63%. Economic growth has stagnated, consistently falling below 2% over the past decade, and key sectors like manufacturing and agriculture have failed to generate meaningful job opportunities. The decline of state-owned enterprises has compounded the crisis, undermining business confidence and investment. Service delivery failures, rooted in inadequate skills, corruption, and maladministration, have further eroded the state's capacity to meet citizens' basic needs. The result is a nation on the brink of financial collapse, with rising frustration and disillusionment among the population. ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa Image: Kamogelo Moichela The Dangers of 'Anti-Future' Politics Perhaps the most damning indictment of the ANC is its descent into what some analysts call 'anti-future' politics – an orientation defined more by what the party opposes than by any coherent vision for the future. The ANC's rhetoric remains stuck in 1994, endlessly refighting old battles while new crises multiply. Instead of articulating a compelling vision for tomorrow, the party substitutes slogans for solutions and blame-shifting for accountability. This failure of imagination threatens to condemn South Africa to permanent stagnation at a time when bold, creative leadership is desperately needed. The ANC's inability to adapt to the evolving political landscape, particularly the transition to coalition politics, reflects a deeper unwillingness to acknowledge the end of its era of automatic dominance. The Path Forward: Reform or Irrelevance Despite the gravity of its predicament, the ANC's path to redemption remains open, though the window is rapidly closing. The party must commit to a ruthless programme of clean governance, establishing and enforcing clear ethical standards for leadership. This means removing not only those implicated in corruption but anyone whose presence damages public trust, across all factions. Governing in coalition requires a profound shift in approach. The ANC must embrace genuine power-sharing, ending the practice of unilateral decision-making and demonstrating real willingness to compromise on policies and appointments. Reconnecting with communities is equally critical; the party's traditional grassroots networks have atrophied, and rebuilding them demands sustained, meaningful engagement between campaigns. On economic policy, the ANC must move beyond slogans to deliver tangible improvements in people's lives. This starts with fixing basic governance failures – ensuring a reliable electricity and water supply, improving education outcomes, and creating an environment where businesses can thrive. Credible job creation programmes and professional management of state-owned enterprises would demonstrate serious commitment to reform. Nco Dube a political economist, businessman, and social commentator. Image: Supplied Across Africa, liberation movements have often deteriorated into corrupt, ineffective shells of their former selves once in power. The pattern is familiar: initial legitimacy gives way to complacency, then corruption, and eventually electoral rejection or authoritarian entrenchment. The ANC stands perilously close to this precipice, with its continued relevance hanging in the balance. The party's future – and indeed South Africa's – depends on whether ANC leaders finally recognise the severity of their crisis and respond with the courage and vision it demands. The people are watching, and their patience has worn thin. The time for half-measures and empty rhetoric is over. Either the ANC changes now, or it consigns itself to the dustbin of history. Dube is a political economist, businessman, and social commentator on Ukhozi FM. His views don't necessarily reflect those of the Sunday Tribune and Independent Media. This is an edited version; you can get the full version on our online platforms or at SUNDAY TRIBUNE
TimesLIVE
16-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
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, 'in 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.'
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.
