Parliament finally receives names of Nkabane’s panel to oversee selection of SETA board chairs

CAPE TOWN - The Higher Education portfolio committee has finally received the names of Minister Nobuhle Nkabane’s panel that will oversee the selection of the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board chairpersons.

Minister Nkabane had refused to reveal the names of the panel and clashed with members of Parliament (MPs) during a tense meeting of the portfolio committee last month, where she was accused of being dismissive.

The chairperson of the committee, Tebogo Letsie, said they welcomed the submission of the letter containing the names of five panel members. 

While the committee has welcomed the submission of the names, it noted how advocate Terry Motau, the chairperson of the panel, did not attend any of the meetings.

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Chairperson Tebogo Letsie also says the committee believes this disclosure by the minister “should have occurred from the outset,”.

“We are dealing with public institutions funded through parliamentary appropriations. It was therefore baffling that the committee had to strongly remind the minister of such a basic accountability requirement in our democratic governance system,” said Letsie.

Letsie stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in institutions funded by public resources.

Nkabane’s spokesperson, Camagwini Mavovana, says the minister stands ready to account to Parliament.

“The minister stands ready to account to the portfolio committee and to respond to further request for information in this regard.”

The other panel members include Asisipho Solani, Nelisiwe Semane, Mabuza Ngubane and Rhulani Ngwenya.

The committee will now engage with the minister further on the processes followed in appointing chairpersons to lead South Africa’s 21 SETAs after the previous process was scrapped following a public outcry.