EFF, DA claim victory over withdrawal of SETA board appointments

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The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Democratic Alliance (DA) have welcomed the decision to withdraw the controversial appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board chairpersons.

The appointments sparked public outrage as the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe’s son, was also among those appointed by his former deputy, Nobuhle Nkabane, who is now the Minister of Higher Education and Training.

PARTIES RAISE CONCERN ABOUT SETA BOARD APPOINTMENTS

The EFF and the DA raised concerns about the political proximity of the people who were appointed as chairpersons of the various SETA boards. These include former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, Gwede Mantashe’s son Buyambo Mantashe, Head of Department in the KZN Department of Transport Siboniso Mbhele, and former KZN MEC of Economic Development and Tourism Mike Mabuyakhulu.

The DA said the SETA appointments raise serious concerns about the politicisation of institutions meant to serve all South Africans.

“SETA boards play a vital role in skills development and economic empowerment. They are not ANC cadre deployment havens, nor should they be misused as rewards for political loyalty,” the party’s spokesperson Karabo Khakhau said.

Earlier this week, chaos erupted when EFF member of Parliament Sihle Lonzi was manhandled and forcibly removed by security officers removed during a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education for questioning the SETA board appointments.

Lonzi questioned whether the Director-General, Nkosinathi Sishi, was aware of Buyabambo Mantashe’s appointment to the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA.

CONTROVERSIAL APPOINTMENTS WITHDRAWN

Following the outrage, Nobuhle Nkabane said in response to public concerns, she has withdrawn the SETA board appointments, emphasising that they were overseen by an independent panel.

“Further, I take this decision in the interest of good governance, transparency to ensure the accountability of the appointment process. In this regard, I will reopen the process by issuing a Government Gazette calling for nominations for seven days. I will also establish a new independent panel to process the nominations and recommended candidates,” Nkabane explained.

In response, the EFF said it is of the firm belief that these appointments were not made in the spirit of fairness, transparency, or merit, but were instead a manifestation of the ANC’s longstanding practice of rewarding political loyalty with positions of public responsibility.

The party also criticised the appointment of Gwede Mantashe’s son and his [Gwede] advisor, saying this is not only a conflict of interest but also a textbook case of nepotism and elite capture of state institutions for personal and factional gain.

“The reopening of the nomination process must not be a cosmetic exercise. It must lead to selecting the best candidates based on merit, experience, and a demonstrable track record of ethical leadership. Anything less will betray the public trust,” the party said.