As ANC hails Nkabane's U-turn on SETA board chair appointments, DA and EFF are likely the victors

JOHANNESBURG - As the African National Congress (ANC) hails Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane’s U-turn on the appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board chairpersons as a victory for integrity discipline and democratic accountability, the true victors are likely to be the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), once again, who after much pressure saw yet another minister not only coming under fire but being forced to change tact.

Nkabane announced on Thursday night that she’s recalibrating the process on the appointment of board chairs across various SETA boards, adding that this is in the interests of good governance, transparency and accountability

Buyambo Mantashe, the son of Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, who she deputised before being appointed a minister herself, was appointed chair of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA.

On 13 May, the DA’s Karabo Khakhau posted a list of new appointments to SETA boards, raising an issue after seeing Buyambo’s name on the list.

The following day, a scene involving EFF MP Sihle Lonzi and Tebogo Letsie, the chair of the Higher Education Committee unfolded.

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Lestie: You are asking the wrong person.

Lonzi: Honourable Ngubane is here; he must answer for himself.

Letsie: No, you are asking the wrong person, we have agreed on it here, in this committee. 

Lonzi: I’m not your caucus, I am an independent member of Parliament.

Lonzi was eventually booted from the meeting, with Letsie insisting the committee had already agreed on calling in the minister

As it stands, Nkabane, who insists the appointments were done through an independent process, has reneged, citing public concerns.