Parly receives letters from people denying involvement in SETA board selection panel

CAPE TOWN - Parliament has received more letters from individuals denying their involvement in the selection panel of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board.

The officials are from the Department of Higher Education.

Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has been widely criticised for her handling of the selection process.

The latest correspondence comes after Advocate Terry Motau also denied being part of the panel after the minister named him as chairperson.

Nkabane has since apologised to Motau for naming him.

In June, Motau was the first to deny taking part in any process to elect chairpersons to the 21 SETA boards after he was named as chairperson by Nkabane in a letter to the portfolio.

He said he had informed Nkabane of his inability to take part, but she named him despite this.

Now Nelisiwe Semane, Nkabane’s chief of staff, also said she didn’t take part in the selection process, which was abandoned following an outcry after politically connected individuals were appointed.

ALSO READ:

• DA says its criminal complaint against Minister Nkabane being investigated by Hawks

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

• Some parties in National Assembly reject Nkabane's budget

In her letter to committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie, and seen by EWN, Semane said while her name appears on the list, “it is because the minister submitted a list that includes all the panels that she appointed since taking office”.

Rhulani Ngwenya, the deputy director general in the department, has also clarified that she was not involved in the approval process of the 21 nominees who were ultimately appointed as chairpersons.

She said she was only appointed to provide secretarial support.