Former minister Nobuhle Nkabane takes responsibility for Seta appointment blunders amid ethics investigation

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · Mar 25, 2026 · 966 words · By Siyabonga Goni

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What to know about Former minister Nobuhle Nkabane takes responsibility for Seta appointment blunders amid ethics investigation

Former minister of higher education and training Nobuhle Nkabane, who now serves as the ANC’s Deputy Chief Whip, has admitted to Daily Maverick that she failed to conduct proper oversight and is taking full responsibility for her controversial appointments of…

Claims checked 8

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Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

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Center100%

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7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

‘I admit and take responsibility’ Nkabane told Daily Maverick that she intended to establish an independent and properly functioning evaluation panel; however: “I did not exercise the level of oversight and due diligence required to ensure that the panel…

Common ground

In relying on delegated authority, I failed to detect early warning signs that the process was not unfolding as intended.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: Former minister Nobuhle Nkabane takes responsibility for Seta appointment blunders amid ethics investigation?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Former minister Nobuhle Nkabane admitted to failing to conduct proper oversight and taking responsibility for her controversial Seta appointments?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-03-25-former-minister-nobuhle-nkaba…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

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Claim 1: “Former minister Nobuhle Nkabane admitted to failing to conduct proper oversight and taking responsibility for her controversial Seta appointments.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that Nobuhle Nkabane admitted to failing in the oversight process for the Seta board chairpersons appointments. One source states she 'admitted that she failed to detect flaws and early signs in the process of the appointment of the Seta board chairpersons.'

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Nobuhle Pamela Nkabane MP (born 1 August 1979) was the Minister of Higher Education in the cabinet of South Africa, having been sworn in on 3 July 2024 and served until 21 July 2025. She previously se…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobuhle_Nkabane

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web search NEUTRAL — Former of higher education and training minister Nobuhle Nkabane has admitted that she failed to detect flaws and early signs in the process of the appointment of the Seta board chairpersons. This ...
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-03-25-former-mi…

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web search NEUTRAL — Former minister of higher education Nobuhle Nkabane has been found guilty of breaching parliament's code of ethics over her handling of the process of selecting Seta board chairpersons, which ...
https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2026-03-24-nkabane-foun…

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 2: “Nkabane claimed to have established an independent panel to oversee the Seta appointments, but Advocate Motau revealed he was never formally appointed.”

CORROBORATED

Two separate web search results confirm that Advocate Motau stated he was not formally appointed to chair an independent panel overseeing the SETA board appointments, contradicting Nkabane's claim.

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web search NEUTRAL — Advocate Terry Motau, who Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane claimed was chairing an independent advisory panel of the SETA board, said he never agreed to the role.
https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2025-06-20-nkabanes-seta-sca…

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web search NEUTRAL — Advocate Terry Motau says he was not formally appointed to chair an independent panel to oversee the appointment of the SETA board chairpersons.
https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/nkabanes-no-show-in-parlia…

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web search NEUTRAL — Nobuhle Nkabane Seta panel board chairpersons. Former higher education and training minister Nobuhle Nkabane.“Only Advocate Motau was independent in a real sense because two are from the department an…
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/nkabane-parliament-seta-panel…

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Claim 3: “Nkabane attempted to appoint 21 Seta board chairpersons with deep ties to the ANC, including Buyambo Mantashe and Mike Mabuyakhulu.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that Nkabane was involved in appointing 21 Seta board chairpersons, and these appointments were linked to ANC politicians, including Buyambo Mantashe's son.

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web search NEUTRAL — After weeks of mounting pressure, Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has released the list of panellists who assisted her with the appointments of 21 Seta board chairpersons — several of ...
https://www.msn.com/en-za/politics/government/nkabane-reveal…

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web search NEUTRAL — Several of the 21 Seta board chairpersons appointments were linked to ANC politicians, including Gwede Mantashe's son, Buyambo Mantashe, who had been appointed chairperson of the Manufacturing ...
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-07-21-ramaphosa…

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 4: “The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) confirmed charges against Nkabane are still under investigation.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) are investigating criminal charges against Nkabane related to the SETA appointment misconduct, following complaints from the DA.

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web search NEUTRAL — The Hawks have confirmed they are investigating criminal charges against Higher Education Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, following a complaint filed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) last week.
https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2025-07-07-hawks-confirm-inv…

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web search NEUTRAL — By Mpho MoloiThe Hawks Step In: A Case Under InvestigationDA’s Charges: Fraud, Lies, and SETA Appointments
https://centralnews.co.za/hawks-investigate-minister-nkabane…

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web search NEUTRAL — The Democratic Alliance (DA) confirmed on Monday that the criminal complaint it laid against African National Congress (ANC) Minister Nobuhle Nkabane is now under investigation by the Directorate for …
https://www.polity.org.za/article/das-criminal-case-against-…

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Claim 5: “President Cyril Ramaphosa removed Nkabane from the Cabinet and appointed Buti Manamela as the new minister of higher education and training.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that President Cyril Ramaphosa removed Nkabane from the role of Minister of Higher Education and Training and appointed Buti Manamela to the portfolio.

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web search NEUTRAL — President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed Dr Nobuhle Nkabane from the role of Minister and Higher Education and Training and has in terms of Section 91 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Afr…
https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/president-cyril-ram…

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web search NEUTRAL — President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Buti Manamela as minister of higher education and training.
https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2025-07-21-nkabane-remo…

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web search NEUTRAL — President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed Dr Nobuhle Nkabane from the role of Minister of Higher Education and Training and has appointed Buti Manamela as Minister of the portfolio.
https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/president-appoints-ne…

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Claim 6: “The DA welcomed the ethics committee's findings and stated Nkabane lied to Parliament to cover her tracks.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that the Democratic Alliance (DA) accused Nkabane of misleading Parliament regarding the SETA appointments.

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web search NEUTRAL — The Democratic Alliance has laid criminal charges against Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane after she misled the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education over the ...
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-07-01-da-lays-c…

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web search NEUTRAL — Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken decisive action against Minister Nobuhle Nkabane by formally laying criminal charges for deliberately misleading Parliament and abusing her position to fa…
https://www.da.org.za/2025/07/da-lays-criminal-charges-again…

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web search NEUTRAL — This comes after the Joint Ethics Committee found Nkabane guilty of misleading Parliament about SETA board appointments when she was the Higher Education Minister.
https://www.ewn.co.za/2026/03/25/da-awaits-hawks-action-agai…

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Claim 7: “Nkabane breached items 5(1)(c) and (e) of the Code of Ethical Conduct by failing to act in the public trust and maintaining parliamentary integrity.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that the Ethics Committee found Nkabane breached specific items of the Code of Ethical Conduct, namely item 5(1)(c) and (e).

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web search NEUTRAL — Ms Nkabane blamed Mr Solani for the entire debacle but accepted the Joint Committee's finding that she breached the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members' Interests. The Joint Committee fo…
https://www.parliament.gov.za/press-releases/media-statement…

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web search NEUTRAL — "The committee found that honourable Nkabane, MP breached item 5 (1) (c) and (e) of code of ethical conduct and disclosure of members' Interests," Gordon wrote.
https://mg.co.za/politics/2026-03-24-parliament-orders-nkaba…

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web search NEUTRAL — Please find attached English, isiZulu, Sesotho by Karabo Khakhau MP. I have received a letter from Parliament's Acting Registrar of Members' Interests, which confirms that the ANC's Nobuhle Nkabane is…
https://www-origin.da.org.za/2026/03/parliament-ethics-commi…

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Claim 8: “The committee mandated Nkabane's apology must address allowing her adviser Asisipho Solani to manipulate Seta appointments and failing to exercise due care.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results indicate that the ethics committee found Nkabane guilty for allowing her advisor to improperly handle appointments and for failing to detect flaws, leading to recommendations for an apology.

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web search NEUTRAL — Former higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane was found guilty of breaching parliament's code of ethics for allowing her advisor to improperly handle the appointment of Seta board ...
https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2026-03-24-nkabane-foun…

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+ 1 more evidence source

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.