Ramaphosa demands answers from Minister Nkabane over Seta appointments and conduct in Parliament

President Cyril Ramaphosa has requested Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane to report to him about her recent behaviour in Parliament and contentious Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board appointments that have since been withdrawn.

“President Ramaphosa has noted the content from and media commentary on the appearance of the Honourable Dr Nobuhle Nkabane before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training on 30 May 2025,” said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya at a press conference at the Union Buildings on Thursday night.

“The President appreciates that what he has seen may not constitute the full scope or context of the engagement, therefore the President has requested that the minister provide him with a detailed report on the decorum and substance of her engagement with Parliament,” he continued.

Magwenya said Ramaphosa had also requested a report on “the process undertaken to appoint the board members to the Sector Education and Training Authority that were at the centre of the portfolio committee’s questions”.

Read more: MPs demand transparency over secretive Seta appointments panel

Nkabane’s appearance before Parliament followed leaked information last month about questionable appointments of chairpersons to Seta boards.

Among the contentious appointees were Ramaphosa’s allies, former KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and former ANC deputy chairperson in KZN Mike Mabuyakhulu, along with Buyambo Mantashe, the son of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, Daily Maverick’s Siyabonga Goni reported.

The appointments of several ANC associates sparked immediate furore from MPs, who demanded answers.

On 16 May, Nkabane announced that she was withdrawing the appointments “in response to public concerns”. She said she would issue a Government Gazette calling for fresh nominations to the board for a period of seven days. A new independent panel would also be established to process the nominations and recommend candidates, according to Nkabane.

Appearing before Parliament’s higher education portfolio committee on Friday, 30 May, Nkabane, however, refused to disclose the names of the independent panel members and maintained that there were no flaws in the original appointment process, Daily Maverick reported.

Nkabane also drew the ire of the South African public after videos went viral of her seemingly chewing gum and being dismissive of MPs’ questioning in the meeting.

After the meeting, the minister took to X to explain why she was chewing.

“Claims that I was rude or disrespectful are false and based on misleading clips taken out of context. I did not disrupt the process,” she wrote.

3. Claims that I was rude or disrespectful are false and based on misleading clips taken out of context. I did not disrupt the process.

4. I respect the work of Parliament and remain fully accountable to the Committee and the South African public.

— Dr Nobuhle Nkabane (@Dr_NobuhleN) June 1, 2025

Read more: EFF’s Sihle Lonzi evicted from Parliament after challenging Seta board appointments

On Thursday night, Magwenya said Ramaphosa expected Nkabane to “establish a constructive relationship with the portfolio committee as she exercises her leadership and accountability.

“The request for the report is in view of the President’s expectation that ministers, deputy ministers and senior executives in the public sector conduct themselves professionally, transparently and cordially in engaging with Parliament and other accountability structures.

“The public broadcast of parliamentary proceedings and the viral spread of content from, and public comment on, these proceedings demand that all ministers and senior officials remain conscious of all aspects of their conduct during such proceedings,” he said.

Magwenya did not confirm when Nkabane was expected to present her report to Ramaphosa.

“The President is attending to the matter… When it comes to deadlines and the substance of reports, it’s often better to just leave it between the President and the minister concerned. Otherwise you’re running the risk of the President managing issues with members of his national executive in the public domain, which is not ideal,” he said.

In a statement issued on X after Magwenya’s briefing, Nkabane acknowledged that the “situation could have been handled differently”.

I have noted the concerns raised by various stakeholders. Upon reflection, and having considered the feedback, I acknowledge that the situation could have been handled differently. I value the critical role of Parliament in providing oversight. pic.twitter.com/YoHqVgl5jA

— Dr Nobuhle Nkabane (@Dr_NobuhleN) June 5, 2025

“I intend to inculcate and maintain a constructive, respectful, and professional working relationship with all members of Parliament. I remain committed to the principles of accountability, good governance, and cooperative governance as outlined in our Constitution and parliamentary protocols. It was never my intention to evade accountability or undermine the decorum of Parliament,” she said. DM