SASCO calls for Nkabane’s immediate axing

Nkabane is under pressure over following her refusal in Parliament to disclose the advisory panel responsible for appointing SETA board chairs.

Speaking at the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg on Sunday, SASCO president Alungile Kamtshe said they would spend the next 30 days setting out seven key grievances against the minister.

“This minister has undermined the public intelligence. She’s the only one that’s clever, everyone is stupid, but to the observation by South Africans, it is clear that this minister is not fit for office. She has a heightened incompetence from the level at which she engages with the public, from statements that come from her department that sometimes she has to retract.”

Their position adds to mounting pressure from the DA and other critics, who accuse Nkabane of appointing politically connected, ANC‑linked individuals to key positions, misleading Parliament, and failing to address corruption in the SETA system.

These appointments allegedly delayed SETA operations, eroded public trust, and contravened ethical standards, prompting formal complaints to the Office of the Public Protector.

READ MORE: Nkabane summoned to reveal outstanding names on SETA panel

Kamtshe urged that the ongoing investigation not stall essential SETA board appointments, warning that delays grant unchecked powers to SETA executives.

“SASCO believes that the investigation should not halt the reopening of the SETA board chairpersons, every minute that there is a delay in appointing these boards, it provides SETA executives with unfitted powers due to minimal accountability.”

SASCO also wants an immediate overhaul of the newly appointed NSFAS board, citing corruption and mismanagement.

While Nkabane defended her appointees as qualified professionals with experience in finance, law, engineering, and governance, Kamtshe argued that the appointments were done improperly.  

“We declare that, that board is illegal considering that its appointment has been flawed throughout. As of today, the board of NSFAS is taking critical decisions but it has been appointed illegally – it’s initially appointment has about 12 people who did not come from the section of the students.”

He urged the higher education portfolio committee to prioritise student interests by intervening promptly.

“We call upon the members of the portfolio committee to take the NSFAS board matter into serious regard and take the interests of the students and place them at the center of the work that is conducted by the portfolio committee,” Kamtshe added.

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