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[FILE IMAGE]: 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.
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has expressed serious concern that it may have been misled – after reviewing correspondence from Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, which contradicts earlier assurances regarding the independence of the panel tasked with recommending board appointments to the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).
The committee says it has now requested a full explanation from the Minister and her department.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Tebogo Letsie says, “The concerns of members were that in the meeting of the 30th of May 2025, the buzzword that was used at the meeting, was that the panel was independent. When the list was released, they then were asking what was independent because the meeting of the 30th concentrated on the fact that the panel was independent.”
“So, they even went as far as saying they believe the Minister lied in parliament, and we must as the committee – refer to the ethics committee, open criminal cases,” adds Letsie.
PODCAST | Below is the full interview with Chairperson Tebogo Letsie:
