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Parliament Confirms Seta Panel Never Existed. ‘This Could’ve Been Avoided,’ Say MPs

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1 month ago

July 23, 2025

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Parliament has confirmed that the advisory panel former higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane claimed helped her appoint chairpersons to Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) boards never actually existed.

The revelation came during a heated briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training on Tuesday, where it emerged that none of the individuals listed as panellists had ever met or participated in any official selection process. The briefing followed weeks of public outrage after a leaked list of appointees, some reportedly linked to the ANC, sparked accusations of cronyism.

“In real terms, there was no panel. Maybe there was an intention to have a panel, but it was not implemented,” committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie told MPs. “This matter could have been avoided.”

Clash in Committee Over Ex-Minister’s Accountability

Committee members clashed over how to proceed after President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed Nkabane from her post. A legal opinion advised against questioning departmental officials—citing the absence of the former minister and her right to reply, but MPs, particularly DA MP Karabo Khakhau, pushed back.

“Whether Nobuhle Nkabane is minister or not does not change the fact that she lied and committed a statutory offence,” Khakhau argued. “Parliament’s job does not stop because she’s no longer in office.”

Despite Letsie’s caution against turning the session into a commission of inquiry, MPs voted to continue questioning the alleged panellists.

No Meetings, No Recommendations, No Panel

All four officials questioned, department deputy director-general Rhulani Ngwenya, Nkabane’s chief of staff Nelisiwe Semane, her advisor Asisipho Solani, and Advocate Terry Motau, confirmed they had never attended any meetings or taken part in recommending board members.

Motau was the only one considered “independent,” according to Letsie, with the others being internal appointments from the department and ministry undermining any claim of an independent panel.

“People may have received appointment letters, but they didn’t know what their roles would have been,” Letsie said.

A Missed Opportunity for Transparency

MPs expressed frustration that Nkabane had not simply owned up to making the appointments herself, a power she held legally. Instead, the creation of a phantom panel has led to a scandal that could have been easily avoided.

“She could have said, ‘I appointed them, I heard the public concerns, I’ll take responsibility and restart the process,’” Letsie remarked.

The committee will now compile a preliminary report. If necessary, Nkabane will be invited to respond before final recommendations are made.

New Ministers Sworn In

Meanwhile, Nkabane’s former deputy, Buti Manamela, has been sworn in as the new Minister of Higher Education. Nomusa Dube-Ncube, the former premier of KwaZulu-Natal, steps in as Deputy Minister.

[Live]: Swearing-in Ceremony of the new Minister and Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training
https://t.co/agMqKMAl46

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) July 22, 2025