By Johnathan Paoli
African National Congress secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has outlined progress made in the country’s post-school education sector, while dismissing various accusations made by the Democratic Alliance’s against Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane.
They relate to the appointment of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) board chairs.
During a briefing at Luthuli House on Monday, Mbalula sought to reframe the debate around Nkabane’s conduct, situating it within a broader ANC agenda of education reform, party renewal and transparency.
“We are encouraged by gains in higher education, including expanding access to universities and TVET colleges, record numbers of graduates. However, we do not turn a blind eye to persistent challenges, including administrative inefficiencies, infrastructure taps and governance failures in some institutions,” Mbalula said.
Mbalula began the briefing by celebrating achievements in higher education under the ANC government.
He highlighted record graduation rates, growing access to universities and TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges, and the University of Johannesburg’s inclusion in the top 500 global rankings.
He reiterated the ANC’s support for increased funding allocations to historically disadvantaged universities, such as Unisa, Fort Hare and the University of Limpopo.
He also called for stabilising National Student Financial Aid Scheme disbursements and strengthening infrastructure within the TVET college system.
Addressing the controversy involving the SETA board appointments, Mbalula defended Nkabane’s decision to convene an advisory panel, although it was not legally required under the Skills Development Act of 1997-98.
The Act empowered the minister to appoint board members, including chairpersons, in consultation with the National Skills Authority.
Mbalula explained that while senior counsel Terry Motau was approached to chair the advisory panel, his appointment was never finalised.
Nevertheless, his name was mistakenly included in documents submitted to Parliament.
“Importantly, the minister made it clear to Parliament that Advocate Motau did not attend any meetings. This proves there was no attempt to deceive. Once the error was discovered, minister Nkabane took full responsibility and apologised both to Advocate Motau and Parliament,” Mbalula argued.
The minister has since withdrawn the entire list of SETA board chairpersons and restarted the appointment process, inviting broader participation from civil society, business, students and labour.
Mbalula launched a scathing attack on the DA, accusing the party of exploiting the SETA issue for political gain while ignoring more pressing issues affecting their constituencies.
“We reject, in the strongest terms, the Democratic Alliance’s opportunistic laying of criminal charges against the Minister. This is not about truth – it is about performance. While gang violence and systemic inequality devastate communities in the Western Cape, the DA misdirects police resources toward a political vendetta,” Mbalula said.
He emphasised that no law had been broken and that accountability had already been demonstrated through the minister’s apology and her corrective action.
The DA swiftly hit back through its national spokesperson and Member of Parliament on the Higher Education Committee, Karabo Khakhau.
In a series of statements and social media posts, Khakhau accused the ANC of covering up fraud and misconduct.
“Fikile Mbalula, your attempt to protect Nkabane for lying and breaking the law smells like exactly what you did with Zuma’s Nkandla. The people of RSA are not dumb. We see right through you and the ANC,” Khakhau posted on X.
In an official statement, the DA declared it was “astounded” by the ANC’s “full and unconditional backing of lying minister Nkabane”.
The party accused her of orchestrating a “scheme of deception to conceal cadre deployment corruption”, alleging that ANC-connected individuals benefited from high-paying SETA board appointments, including relatives of senior ANC leaders.
“The ANC again defends the indefensible, this is a profound moment. It has shades of Nkandla all over again,” Khakhau said.
Khakhau confirmed that the DA’s criminal complaint against Nkabane was now under investigation by the Hawks, who was reportedly probing allegations of fraud and violations of statutory provisions related to misleading Parliament.
The DA alleges that Nkabane misrepresented the role of Motau in a scheme designed to facilitate the appointment of ANC loyalists, some of whom were closely linked to senior party figures including former ministers and provincial coordinators.
“President Ramaphosa remains idle while his ministers face serious allegations of corruption and deception. Why won’t he act against Nkabane, Simelane and others implicated in wrongdoing?” Khakhau charged.
The DA said it would continue working with the Hawks to ensure full transparency and justice, pledging further updates as the investigation unfolded.
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