New details reveal former Deputy Minister Nobuhle Nkabane launched a belated investigation into a troubled Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) mere hours before her abrupt removal from Cabinet – three months after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana first alerted her to serious governance failures.
Multiple sources confirm Godongwana warned Nkabane in April about alleged financial mismanagement, procurement breaches and potential criminal conduct at the Seta under her watch. Yet she only authorized an internal review 48 hours before President Ramaphosa’s cabinet reshuffle.
“The timing suggests panic, not proactive leadership,” a Treasury insider told journalists, noting the minister had “clear evidence and ample time” to act earlier.
While Ramaphosa gave no official reason for Nkabane’s dismissal, government insiders believe her delayed response to the multimillion-rand scandal proved decisive. The last-minute intervention – including audit requests and compliance checks – has been widely interpreted as damage control rather than genuine accountability.
Nkabane’s office maintains she took “corrective steps consistent with good governance,” but the episode has intensified scrutiny of political oversight at Setas, which control crucial skills development funds.
The scandal highlights recurring concerns about accountability gaps in South Africa’s vocational training sector, where delayed interventions often follow whistleblower reports rather than prevent crises. With no comment from Godongwana’s office, questions remain about why red flags went unaddressed for months.
Analysts suggest the case may prompt broader reforms in Seta oversight as Ramaphosa’s administration seeks to demonstrate tougher action on governance failures. For now, it stands as another example of accountability arriving too late – and only when political survival hangs in the balance.
