Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has met with advocate Terry Motau SC after he distanced himself from any involvement with the selection of Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) chairpersons.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Nkabane claims that she met with Motau to apologise for misrepresenting him and causing confusion by listing the legal eagle as the chair of the five-member Seta appointment panel when he was never officially hired for the job.
“The purpose of this engagement was to seek a shared understanding of the matter
and to express regret for the confusion caused,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The minister conveyed her sincere apology to advocate Motau for any inconvenience, reputational discomfort, or misunderstanding that may have arisen.”
Nkabane asserts that she was not aware that Motau’s appointment as the panel’s chair did not follow the appropriate legal channels.
Misunderstanding resolved
The statement continued: “There was never any intent to misrepresent advocate Motau’s role or to cause harm to his professional standing.
“The misunderstanding has now been constructively resolved, and there is a mutual understanding between the parties.
“The minister has also acknowledged that she was not made fully aware that concluding advocate Motau’s role in the process required formal engagement through an attorney. This gap in communication contributed to the oversight.”
Last week, a letter from Motau to Nkabane was leaked on social media, leaving her with a damaged reputation.
In the correspondence, he denies ever being part of the panel that recommended ANC-aligned individuals to chair 21 Setas.
Motau states that he was approached by Nkabane’s advisor, Asisipho Solani, to chair the panel; however, the correct legal channels were not taken, which led to his decision to not participate in the process.
Motau had been listed as part of the panel alongside Nelisiwe Semane, Mabuza Ngubane, and Rhulani Ngwenya.
Ngubane is listed as the chief director for Seta coordination, Ngwenya is the department’s deputy director-general of corporate services, Semane is the chief of staff in Solani’s office, and Solani was once an ANC youth leader.
Independence of panel questioned
These names were released by the minister last week after pressure from the higher education portfolio committee.
Nkabane was unable to meet her initial deadline, June 11, to release the names of panellists 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 that her deadline be extended.
Now the portfolio committee is questioning whether the panel is independent and has requested that Nkabane appear before parliament to further explain herself.
Members of the committee are also requesting details around the appointments, including the minutes of the meetings held by the panellists
