Nkabane defends decision to appoint politically connected people to chair SETA boards
She says the appointment of the chairpersons of the SETA boards was also 'beyond reproach' despite withdrawing the names following a public outcry.
Minister Nobuhle Nkabane briefing the Higher Education committee on her decision with withdraw the appointments of SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) board chairpersons following a public outcry. Picture: Phandu Jikelo/Parliament
CAPE TOWN – Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane has defended her decision to appoint some politically connected individuals to chair the boards of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), saying they were qualified.
She said that the appointment of the chairpersons of the SETA boards was also "beyond reproach" despite withdrawing the names following a public outcry.
On Friday, Nkabane briefed the portfolio committee on higher education on her decision to withdraw the appointments, which included Buyambo Mantashe, the son of Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe and former African National Congress (ANC) member of Parliament (MP) Philly Mapulane.
Nkabane told MPs that the process was always above board and those previously selected were more than qualified.
However, she decided to withdraw the chairpersons of the SETA board after noticing the concerns of parties and the outcry in the public and on social media.
"However, I must also put it on record that the panel recommended highly qualified candidates, and I was happy to share with the portfolio committee today [Friday] their profiles. However, there’s nothing illegal about it, there are no flaws."
Nkabane also told Parliament that she was confident that the restarted process to appoint new chairpersons would not attract any negative attention and cause another outcry.
The process closes on 13 June 2025.