Former Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has been found to have breached Parliament’s Code of Ethical Conduct, with the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests recommending that she be formally reprimanded and required to apologise in the National Assembly.
The findings follow an investigation into the appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board chairpersons, where Nkabane was found to have failed in her responsibilities and misled Parliament during the process.
According to the committee, Nkabane did not exercise due care in overseeing the appointments and allowed undue political influence to affect the selection process.
The probe was initiated after a complaint by Democratic Alliance MP Karabo Khakhau, which led to a broader examination of governance failures within the department.
The committee found that Nkabane improperly delegated responsibility for the recruitment process to her advisor, Asisipho Solani, without sufficient oversight.
It noted that she failed to follow up on whether a proper recruitment panel had been appointed.
In its findings, the committee concluded that Nkabane breached key provisions of the ethics code by failing to uphold the public trust and maintain confidence in Parliament’s integrity.
While she initially attributed responsibility to her advisor, she ultimately accepted the committee’s findings.
As a result, the committee has recommended that she be reprimanded in the House and issue a formal apology for allowing her advisor to exercise control over the appointment process.
Although stricter penalties were not imposed, the committee took into account that President Cyril Ramaphosa had already dismissed Nkabane from her Cabinet position.
The report is expected to be tabled before Parliament, where the National Assembly will consider and decide on the recommended sanctions.
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