WATCH: Chewing gum in parliament? Minister Nkabane’s ‘disrespectful’ behaviour goes viral
Minister of Higher Education Dr Nobuhle Pamela Nkabane is under fire after a video of her not answering questions and loudly chewing gum went viral.
Minister Nobuhle Nkabane briefing the Higher Education committee on her decision with withdraw the appointments of SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) board chairpersons following a public outcry. Picture: Phandu Jikelo/Parliament
702’s Bongani Bingwa speaks with Jonathan ‘Khabazela’ Fairbairn about what’s going viral.
Listen below:
Minister Nobuhle Nkabane was at a portfolio committee meeting on Friday, where they were discussing the appointment of the SETA board members.
A video of that meeting is going viral, and viewers are horrified by the minister’s attitude.
In the meeting, she was loudly chewing gum and refusing to answer a question about board appointments appropriately.
“It looks like she has got quite a bit of chewing gum in her mouth… You can hear the chewing in her answers.”
- Jonathan ‘Khabazela’ Fairbairn
This is a disgrace...chewing gum whislt answering to Parliament
— Jonathan (Khabazela) Fairbairn (@Jonoloud) June 2, 2025
What's Gone Viral as discussed with @bonglez #702Breakfast #Khabazela #Viral https://t.co/Jt6IuwyPbj
South Africans online slammed her as disrespectful and disinterested, made worse by the loud chewing into the microphone.
“At some point, it sounds like she is even blowing a bubble with the chewing gum.”
– Bongani Bingwa
RELATED: SETA faces backlash over alleged nepotism board appointments
Nkabane has responded to the video, saying she spent most of the day at that meeting and had been permitted to eat.
She says the clips are being taken out of context.
Scroll up to the audio player for more.