Nkabane more than capable of leading Higher Education Dept: ANC in National Assembly

CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly has thrown its weight behind under-fire Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane, saying she’s more than capable of leading the department.

Nkabane has also dismissed attacks from opposition parties over her Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) board selection process, which had to be abandoned following public outcry.

Nkabane tabled her department’s budget in Parliament on Thursday, which was rejected by most parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA).

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Thursday’s debate on Nkabane’s departmental budget focused more on her indiscretions as minister, with opposition members of Parliament (MPs) calling for her resignation.

They accused Nkabane of cronyism and misleading Parliament after her SETA board selection panel appointed politically connected individuals to boards.

But ANC MP David Kgabo said concerns about Nkabane have been addressed.

“We want to tell the EFF [Economic Freedom Fighters] that if you want to instruct the minister what to do, you must go and contest elections and win them. You must not want to lead this country through a backdoor and with that, we unapologetically support the leadership of Minister Nkabane.”

Nkabane said she won’t focus on attacks against her.

“I’m not going to dignify direct attacks on me. I’m going to focus on the task at hand.”

Nkabane also won’t be drawn into commenting about the DA’s criminal complaint against her, saying earlier that she will wait for the process to unfold.