DA refers Higher Education Minister Nkabane to ethics committee 'for lying to Parliament'

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) is referring Minister of Higher Education and Training Nobuhle Nkabane to Parliament's ethics committee, accusing her of misleading the portfolio committee on higher education.

The party said that Nkabane misled the committee when she stated that all members of the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board chairpersons selection and evaluation panel were independent.

But DA committee member, Karabo Khakhau, said that the five-member panel had people who were former provincial African National Youth League (ANCYL) leaders, as well as a current advisor to the minister, Nelisiwe Semane, who is a chief of staff in Nkabane's office.

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

Khakhau also said that Advocate Terry Motau, who chairs the panel, had never attended any of the meetings and the DA would request that all minutes of the panel be made available to the committee in full.

"The Democratic Alliance refers the minister of higher education and training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, to the ethics committee of Parliament for lying to Parliament. This is after the minister assured the portfolio committee of higher education and training that all members who served on the SETA board chairpersons selection and evaluation panel were independent."