NATIONAL NEWS - This morning the DA laid criminal charges against Minister of Higher Education and Training Nobuhle Nkabane for "deliberately misleading Parliament" and "abusing her position to facilitate ANC cadre deployment".
The DA laid the charges at the Cape Town Central Police Station, following Nkabane’s claims to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training that the process to appoint ANC-linked individuals to Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) boards was overseen by an independent evaluation panel.
DA National Spokesperson, Karabo Khakhau said it has been exposed that the so-called panel was stacked with individuals from her own department and political allies, including her Chief of Staff and an ANC Youth League leader.
"Most damningly, she falsely named Advocate Terry Motau SC as the chair of this panel - a claim he has unequivocally denied in writing. He made it clear he had no knowledge of, nor participated in, the process, " Khakhau said.
"This is not a case of poor judgement, it is a flagrant and deliberate attempt to deceive Parliament and the South African people.
"Minister Nkabane has broken the law and violated her oath of office. The DA will not stand by while ministers who lie, manipulate processes, and protect ANC cronies remain in office."
Khakhau said the DA is taking a firm stand:
- The DA will not support the budget of the Department of Higher Education and Training while it is under the leadership of a minister under criminal investigation.
- We will vote against the budgets of departments headed by corrupt ANC Ministers.
- We will use every legal and parliamentary tool at our disposal to root out this rot from government.
She said corruption in the Executive has become standard practice under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s watch.
"His silence and inaction on this matter are enabling the decay. He has no excuse. The evidence is clear. If he refuses to act, then he is complicit in this deception.
The DA will not allow Parliament to be treated with contempt, and we will not tolerate corruption disguised as governance.
"It is time to fire Minister Nkabane and clean out the ANC’s criminal network from the heart of government," Khakhau said.
DA Federal Council Chairperson, Helen Zille addressing the media this morning.
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