Debacle involving Nkabane, SETA boards appointments an attempt to deceive Parly, public - DA

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) said the debacle involving Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane and the dodgy appointment of boards to the Sector Education Training Authorities (SETA) is not just a case of poor judgment, but a flagrant and deliberate attempt to deceive Parliament and the public.

The party laid a criminal complaint against Nkabane at the Cape Town Central Police Station on Tuesday, saying it won’t tolerate ministers who lie and manipulate the process to protect African National Congress (ANC) cronies.

The DA has already submitted a complaint against Nkabane to Parliament’s ethics committee and one to the Public Protector.

But the party’s Karabo Khaukau, who exposed the questionable SETA board appointments, which then led to revelations about an alleged independent panel that selected them, said Nkabane must also face the might of the law.

“This situation deserves an all-hands-on-deck approach. There’s still one missing link - that’s South African authority. While the ethics committee and the Public Protector can find her guilty, the police must jail her.”

The DA said it will also be voting against the budget for the Department of Higher Education, which is up for debate in both houses this week.

“Not only has she shown little to no integrity, but we cannot trust her with the people’s money at all. We give her R19 billion of the people’s money, and she goes on a Christmas spending spree and gives it to her cadres in the ANC, mostly in KZN.”

Under the Powers, Privileges, and Immunities of Parliament Act, it’s considered fraud to mislead or lie to Parliament and carries the sanction of a fine or a three-year jail term.