Parliamentary uproar as Nkabane skips SETA board meeting

Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane found herself at the centre of a parliamentary storm when she failed to attend a crucial meeting of the portfolio committee on Friday.

The portfolio committee had invited Nkabane, alongside panel members who recommended the now-cancelled appointment of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) boards' chairpersons.

While Advocate Terry Motau and Chief Director for SETA coordination, Mabuza Ngubane, made their appearances, Nkabane was notably absent.

Also present were deputy ministers Buti Manamela and Mimmy Gondwe, whom the committee wanted to explain the role they played in the appointments.

However, Deputy Director-General Rhulani Ngwenya tendered an apology, Nkabane’s chief of staff, Nelisiwe Semane, submitted a medical note, and ministerial advisor Asisipho Solani did not respond to the invitation.

Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie detailed the sequence of events, revealing that Nkabane had initially filed an apology because she was attending an annual national student leadership induction programme in East London.

Letsie stated that he rejected her initial apology on Tuesday; however, she sent another apology late Thursday, requesting that the meeting be rescheduled.

Nkabane suggested rescheduling the meeting to next Tuesday or Wednesday, or alternatively, she could appear on a virtual platform on Friday or Saturday after 5pm.

He told the MPs about circumstances around Ngwenya’s apology, who had been in Cape Town since earlier this week but left for Pretoria after the office of Director-General Nkosinathi Sishi allegedly sent a communication that the meeting had been cancelled, only to receive email while mid-air that it was going ahead but could not return as she had personal issue to attend to.

Letsie said it was disturbing that a letter from Sishi informed staff that the committee meeting had been cancelled when it was not the case.

“One of the panellists, Asisipho Solani, decided to blue tick us and no apology or confirmation.”

He said he accepted the apology of Ngwenya and Solani.

MPs were not impressed that Nkabane did not attend the meeting.

ANC MP David Kgabo said Nkabane was in no position to tell them to postpone the meeting.

“This meeting will not operate on the basis of the availability of the minister,” Kgabo said.

Kgabo wanted Nkabane to be reported to the Ethics Committee, but this was not pursued after the committee was advised that they would be relegating their responsibility to another committee.

He also said Sishi was disrupting the smooth functioning of the committee by misrepresenting the committee.

“The DG is one of the people who misled this committee,” Kgabo said.

DA MP Karabo Khakhau said she found it odd that Nkabane insisted to attend the event in East London when the deputy ministers could have represented there.

“There is no reason for the minister to be in the Eastern Cape,” Khakhau said.

“She is blatantly and clearly evading accountability here. This is something not acceptable.” 

MK Party MP Siphetho Mkhize said Solani’s blue ticking of the committee rendered it useless.

Mkhize said any mechanism must be activated to get Nkabane to account.

IFP’s Sanele Zondo said Ngwenya shoud have liaised with the committee and that Nkabane should be given until Tuesday to appear before the committee.

“She can’t run forever because lies have short legs. She proves without doubt that she does not respect this committee,” Zondo said.

Patriotic Alliance’s Ashley Sauls said the committee should not worry about being blue ticked.

“Ours is to hold the executive accountable,” he said and back the view that Nkabane be given until Tuesday to appear before the committee.

EFF MP Sihle Lonzi echoed the same sentiments that a meeting be held with Nkabane on Tuesday, saying “let's push so that the minister can be present”.

Letsie said the majority of the MPs were saying Nkabane will help to get to the bottom of the SETA saga.

He noted that Nkabane’s request for rescheduling to Tuesday and Wednesday was clashing with the National Assembly plenary sittings that start at 10am.

Letsie said he would seek permission for a meeting from House chairperson Cedric Frolick for Tuesday or possibly Thursday or Friday.

He stated that they will summon Sishi and Solani, and invite the others panellists that did not attend.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za