By OBAKENG MAJE
18 June 2025 – After reviewing the letter submitted by the Minister of Higher Education, the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has expressed concern that it was misled about the composition of the panel responsible for recommending appointments to the boards of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).
The Chairperson of the Committee, Tebogo Letsie said the members said the information provided in the letter does not reflect the independence initially claimed, which raises serious questions about the transparency and integrity of the appointment process. Letsie said the committee has recommended that the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, appear before it alongside her Deputy Ministers, the Director-General, and members of the independent panel to explain the process and respond to the committee’s concerns.
“The committee said the names submitted appear to be an extension of the ministry and not an independent panel, as previously claimed. Committee members believe they were misled by previous representations made regarding the independence of the panel and the integrity of the appointment process.
“In particular, the committee finds the redaction or censoring of some panel member names highly irregular and unacceptable. Furthermore, the committee is alarmed by the revelation in the Minister’s letter that the purported Chairperson of the panel did not attend any of its meetings, which raises further questions about who chaired the panel meetings and oversaw the selection of candidates for SETA boards,” he said.
Letsie further said the committee has therefore requested to be privileged with all minutes of the panel’s meetings. He added that they will write to the Minister to inform her of their intention to summon her before the committee to provide answers regarding the SETA board appointments.
“We are extremely disappointed by the list we have received, especially after having spent the entire day on 30 May 2025, interrogating the issue of the panel’s independence. It does not inspire confidence when officials appear before Parliament and misrepresent facts,” said Letsie.
The Guardian 