17.05.2025
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Public outcry leads to withdrawal of SETA chairperson appointments

5 mins



  • Higher Education Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane facilitates a high-level meeting between the South African government and Vice-Chancellors of public institutions at GCIS in Pretoria on Apr 15, 2025.

3 minutes

Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, has withdrawn the recent appointments of chairpersons to various SETAs following public criticism over alleged political interference.​

The decision comes after concerns were raised about the inclusion of individuals with connections to the African National Congress (ANC), such as Buyambo Mantashe, son of Minister Gwede Mantashe, and former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube.​

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament Sihle Lonzi in an interview states, “We can’t simply accept that as South Africans, people can just wake up, put children of ANC ministers, put politicians, and then when they get, you know, the resistance from opposition parties in parliament, now, all of a sudden, a few days later, they just release a statement and say they are withdrawing it. This is the same problem we had under the budget…”

The Department of Higher Education and Training has not yet announced a timeline for new appointments.​

Dr. Nkabane emphasized the importance of ensuring that Sector Education and Training Authorities leadership is based on merit and free from political influence.​

In a post on X, Nkabane says, “Following broader consultations with stakeholders in the post-school education and training sector and their counsel regarding the appointment of the Chairpersons of the Boards of SETAs, I have decided to recalibrate the process – which was overseen by an independent panel.”

She further stresses via the statement that “I have taken the decision to withdraw previous appointments in response to public concerns. Further, I take this decision in the interest of good governance, transparency to ensure accountability of the appointment process…”

The withdrawal of these appointments follows a broader initiative by the Nkabane to address governance issues within the sector, including the recent appointment of a new board for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency.​

Lonzi adds, “We must welcome that finally sanity has prevailed, and we’re saying finally because we had an opportunity to fix this in the Portfolio Committee of Higher Education and Training, whose role is to hold the executive accountable. But because people were so hell-bent on defending the corruption of the ANC, at defending the nepotism of the ANC, the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, who is an ANC member, refused for me to ask the Director-General of Higher Education a simple question…”​

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