Dr Nobuhle Nkabane elected acting chair of Parliament’s agriculture committee

Former Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane has been elected unopposed as Acting Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, the committee confirmed on Wednesday.

Who, what and why

The committee said the election was held in terms of Rule 159 of the National Assembly Rules and that the interim appointment was necessary to ensure its oversight work continues uninterrupted and that it remains able to carry out its constitutional responsibilities.

Nkabane, who also serves as the ANC’s deputy chief whip, will lead the committee until a permanent chairperson is elected. The vacancy followed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of former committee chairperson Dina Pule as Minister of Social Development on June 30, which left the agriculture committee without a leader.

Return to a prominent parliamentary role

The committee’s announcement comes almost a year after Nkabane was removed from Cabinet. Her dismissal last year was linked to allegations that she misled Parliament over the appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board chairpersons.

That controversy included criticism over the appointment of Buyambo Mantashe and intensified after Nkabane appeared before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education. The source reports that several individuals she named as part of an independent advisory panel denied serving on such a panel or participating in the selection process, raising concerns about the accuracy of information provided to Parliament.

Committee backing and priorities

Despite the earlier controversy, Parliament’s agriculture committee unanimously supported Nkabane to serve in the interim role. After her election she thanked committee members for their confidence. The committee said:

“She also committed to work collaboratively with all members to advance the committee’s programme during the interim period,” the committee said.

The committee said Nkabane’s immediate focus will include preparations for parliamentary engagements on the country’s response to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, with efforts aimed at protecting the livestock sector, agricultural trade and strengthening oversight of government programmes.

What this means for oversight work

The interim appointment is intended to keep the committee functioning while a permanent chairperson is selected, enabling ongoing oversight and parliamentary engagement on agricultural matters highlighted by the committee.