The net is closing in on Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane as more members of the Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairpersons’ recommendation panel deny involvement in the selection of ANC-aligned individuals.
Nkabane’s chief of staff Nelisiwe Semane, the higher education deputy director-general of corporate services Rhulani Ngwenya and chief director of Seta coordination Mabuza Ngubane, have written to Parliament’s portfolio committee on higher education and training chair Tebogo Letsie, further explaining that they were not paid for their service to the panel.
In a letter dated June 25, Ngwenya sets out that he was formally appointed to provide secretarial support to the panel.
“I was not involved in the approval of the 21 nominees who were ultimately appointed as chairpersons of Seta accounting authorities,” said Ngwenya.
Semane admitted her involvement but added that she did not participate in short-listing board chairpersons.
“While my name appears on the list of panel members (sic), it is because the minister submitted a list that includes all the panels that she appointed since taking office,” according to the letter.
Ngubane admits Nkabane sent him a letter of appointment to the panel, but adds what he was required to do was in his line of regular duty.
Beyond this, he said he never attended any meeting that discussed the selection of Seta
chairpersons.
“I did not attend any meeting, since I did not receive any invitation for the meeting. Lastly, I reiterate
that neither was I involved in setting up meetings, nor screening the nominations of candidates for the
Seta chairpersons,” said Ngubane.
Nkabane’s advisor and staunch loyalist, Asisipho Solani is the only panellist who furnished the
committee the terms of its reference and appointment letter. However, he fails to mention what work, if any, was done by panellists, but, reiterates he was never paid for his services.
This comes just two weeks after legal heavyweight Terry Motau distanced himself from any
involvement on the panel.
Motau stated that he was approached by Solani, to chair the panel, however, the correct legal channels were not followed, hence his decision to decline participation. His statement led to Nkabane apologising for listing the legal eagle as chair of the five-member panel when he was never officially hired for the job.
Nkabane had revealed the names of the panellists following pressure from the committee. She was unable to meet her initial deadline, June 11, because she was seeking a legal opinion about the matter.
The legal opinion explained that she was within her rights to release the names, but Nkabane was concerned about the backlash that could affect the members of the panel.
She then wrote to each of the members of the selection and evaluation panel and advised them of her intention to comply and asked the portfolio committee to extend her deadline.
The portfolio committee is questioning whether the panel is independent and has requested that Nkabane appear before Parliament to further explain herself.
Sunday World understands that she is likely to face a grilling in Parliament on Friday.
Nkabane’s woes started in May, when it was revealed that she employed politically connected individuals to chair Seta boards.
Notably, the selection of ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe’s son, Buyambo, raised questions. He was selected to chair the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority board.
ANC KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) coordinator Mike Mabuyakhulu, former deputy communications minister Philemon Mapulane, former KZN premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, former KZN sports MEC Amanda Mapena and City of Joburg MMC Loyiso Masuku were also selected.
The appointments were later reversed.
