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Former higher education and training minister Nobuhle Nkabane has been found guilty of lying to Parliament.
Phando Jikelo/RSA Parliament
Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests has found former higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane guilty of lying in Parliament about the controversial appointments of Sector Education Training Authority (SETA) chairpersons.
In a letter to DA spokesperson Karabo Khakhau, who also sits on the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, on Tuesday, the acting Registrar of Members’ Interests, advocate Anthea Gordon, said the committee had recommended that the National Assembly impose a penalty on Nkabane.
Khakhau launched the complaint with the committee last year. President Cyril Ramaphosa fired Nkabane over the scandal. However, recently, the ANC caucus in Parliament appointed her as its deputy chief whip.
In the letter to Khakhau, Gordon said Nkabane had breached the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests.
Gordon said the findings were:
That honourable Nkabane, MP, failed to act on all occasions in accordance with the public trust placed in her and that she failed to maintain public confidence and trust in the integrity of Parliament and thereby engender respect and confidence that society needs to have in Parliament as a representative institution.
Nkabane came under the spotlight when, last year, questions arose about the appointment of a slew of ANC-aligned people to SETA boards. At least four known ANC leaders, including the current higher education deputy minister, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, were selected to serve on the boards. Others were Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe’s son, Buyambo, ANC KwaZulu-Natal boss Mike Mabuyakhulu, and ANC Joburg chairperson and Deputy Mayor Loyiso Masuku. It was eventually Nkabane’s responses to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training that may have led to her axing.
READ | UPDATE | Buti Manamela appointed new higher education minister as axe falls on Nkabane
At the height of the SETA boards scandal, Nkabane was forced to withdraw the list, described as “politically bloated”, and restart the process. The people she claimed served on an alleged independent advisory panel that had selected those on her list also distanced themselves.
Gordon said following Nkabane’s breach, the committee will recommend to the National Assembly that two penalties be imposed.
The letter further read:
A reprimand in the House, and… that the member enter an apology in the House for allowing her advisor to control and manipulate the appointment of the SETA board chairpersons. Also, to apologise for the fact that the member failed to exercise due care over the appointment.
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