Nkabane spitting in SA’s face with no-show at Parly meeting – MP

The minister has also failed to appear, announcing this morning that she has another engagement.

Nkabane is accused of appointing politically aligned individuals to chair the Sector Education and Training Authority boards. 

She also allegedly lied to Parliament about the independent panel she claims made the appointments.

At least three people she named as having been on the panel say they had no role in the appointments.

The Hawks earlier this month confirmed they are investigating a criminal case in the matter.

ANC portfolio committee member Gaolatlhe Kgabo says the Higher Education officials who did not pitch up to account on Friday morning have no respect for the rule of law. 

" I must indicate in this meeting that the minister is not in any position to tell us whether must we postpone the meeting or not. In fact, it must be indicated in this meeting that this portfolio committee will not operate based on the availability of the minister. 

"It must be reaffirmed that this meeting will continue whether the minister is there or not, precisely because of this not the first meeting that we had postponed due to the unavailability of the minister."

The DA's Karabo Khakhau says there is no reason why the minister has to attend events in the Eastern Cape herself when her deputies are available.

" Essentially, we're sitting with two deputy ministers who are responsible for nothing, essentially unable to tell us anything that we need because the person who's going to be able to tell us what's going on is Minister Nkabane.

"Her being evasive in this process is not only [spitting] in our faces because it's a waste of our time, but it's also [spitting] in the faces of the people of this country who depend on a ministry that's going to function properly."

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