Ethics committee says Parliament has final say over findings on Nkabane

The co-chair of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interest said it was up to both houses of Parliament to adopt or ignore its findings against former Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane.

Nkabane was found to have breached the ethical code of conduct after lying to Parliament about the process followed when she appointed African National Congress ANC) cadres and allies as chairpersons of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETAs), including the son of Minister Gwede Mantashe.

The findings follow a complaint lodged with the committee by Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Karabo Khakhau.

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Nkabane was hauled before the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, where the committee accused her of arrogance.

When quizzed by Parliament about the appointments, she lied and said she was advised by a panel, which was later found to be non-existent.

This came after all the so-called panelists distanced themselves from the panel.

The probe found that Nkabane failed to exercise proper oversight in the appointments.

The committee recommended that she be reprimanded by the National Assembly and must apologise for failing to exercise due care in appointing SETA board chairpersons.

However, the co-chair of the ethics committee, Hendrik Brits, said these recommendations were not binding on Parliament and it was up to both houses to adopt or ignore them.