The DA has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire – with immediate effect – Higher Education & Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, claiming ‘brazen’ cadre deployment appointments to the boards of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas).

A Polity report notes the DA accused Nkabane of allegedly misleading Parliament when she stated that the panel tasked with appointing the Seta boards chairpersons consisted of independent people – and subsequently informed Parliament that they were not independent at all.

The DA has accused Nkabane of lying to Parliament to try and cover up ANC cadre deployment appointments to the boards.

In a letter addressed to Ramaphosa, DA Portfolio Committee on Higher Education & Training member, Karabo Khakhau, said once public pressure mounted Nkabane made an effective admission of her infringements by withdrawing the appointments.

‘Mr President, you have a lying Minister in your Cabinet, who has been caught red-handed. It is time for you to fire Minister Nobuhle Nkabane with immediate effect, and to replace her with a Minister committed to making higher education work, not committed to making work for ANC insiders,’ she said.

‘Her first lie to Parliament, to underplay her own involvement, was that an “independent panel” had chosen the successful ANC cadres – deflecting attention from her. But the vague and evasive explanation demanded details, names and identities. Minister Nkabane was put on terms to come clean to Parliament and declare to the portfolio committee about who sat on this “independent panel” and in her reply, Minister Nkabane once again lied. For a second time, she lied to Parliament,’ Khakhau stated.

Full Polity report

Full letter on the Politicsweb site