DA Leads Charge to Oust Higher Education Minister Nkabane

• Minister Nkabane claimed SETA board members were appointed by an independent panel chaired by Adv. Terry Motau SC.
• Motau denied involvement, leading to accusations of perjury and fraud.
• The DA has filed ethics complaints, referred the case to the Public Protector, and plans to press criminal charges.
• Student groups and opposition parties are demanding Nkabane’s firing.
• Nkabane says she is being targeted for being a transformative black female leader.
• The ANC has yet to clarify its stance; the Higher Education budget was rejected in the NCOP.

Pressure is mounting on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Nobuhle Nkabane, following explosive revelations that she allegedly misled Parliament over the appointment of board members to Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

The Democratic Alliance (DA), backed by several student organisations and opposition parties, is demanding Nkabane’s immediate dismissal, citing a pattern of deception, cadre deployment, and failure to uphold the integrity of public office.

The SETA Appointment Controversy

At the heart of the crisis is Nkabane’s claim that board members appointed to various SETAs were selected by an “independent panel” led by esteemed legal advocate Terry Motau SC. However, this claim has unraveled dramatically in recent weeks.

Motau, through a formal statement, denied any involvement in such a panel, stating he was never consulted nor appointed to oversee any SETA appointments. The DA argues that Nkabane’s reference to this fictitious panel constitutes a deliberate lie to Parliament.

“This is not an administrative error—it is a calculated attempt to mislead Parliament and the South African public,” said DA MP Karabo Khakhau in an open letter to President Ramaphosa. “We now know that this so-called ‘independent panel’ never existed.”

Opposition parties allege that the appointments were politically driven, aimed at embedding ANC loyalists into key positions that control billions in skills development funding.

Escalation: Ethics Complaints and Legal Action

The DA has filed an official complaint with Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests, asserting that Nkabane violated the Executive Members’ Ethics Act by knowingly providing false information.

A supplementary complaint has since been added as more evidence emerged discrediting the Minister’s version of events. The party has also referred the matter to the Public Protector and announced plans to lay criminal charges against Nkabane in Cape Town, including charges of fraud and perjury.

“We cannot allow ministers to lie to Parliament with impunity,” said DA MP Jeanne Adriaanse during the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) debate on the Higher Education budget. “This scandal underscores a broader culture of corruption and reckless governance.”

Student Groups Join the Fray

The DA is not alone in its criticism. The South African Students’ Federation (SASF) and the South African Students Congress (SASCO) have both called for Nkabane’s removal, citing a crisis in the higher education sector—from delayed NSFAS disbursements to policy paralysis in the SETA system.

“This is not just about board appointments—it’s about a generation of students being failed by a dysfunctional and politicized department,” said SASF spokesperson Lerato Mokoena.

Nkabane’s Defense: “A Gendered Political Attack”

Minister Nkabane, in her defense during the NCOP budget debate, framed the allegations against her as politically motivated and sexist.

“This is a coordinated attack on a young, black, female minister committed to transformation,” she said. “The resistance I am facing is not new—it is the resistance every black woman faces when they dare to disrupt the status quo.”

She further accused opposition parties of undermining transformation efforts and protecting entrenched interests within the skills development landscape.

Political Fallout: ANC Remains Silent, Budget Rejected

Despite the scandal, the ANC has remained largely silent on the matter. The ANC Youth League came to Nkabane’s defense, denouncing the DA’s actions as “opportunistic” and “deeply sexist.” However, the ANC leadership has yet to publicly support or condemn Nkabane.

In a major political blow to the Minister, the NCOP voted last week to reject the Department of Higher Education’s budget, with parties including the DA, EFF, Freedom Front Plus, and MK Party citing the SETA controversy and systemic mismanagement.

The rejection signals a significant loss of confidence in Nkabane’s leadership across party lines.