“So Coloureds Are Not African?” PA MP Ashley Sauls Explodes During Heated MerSETA Meeting

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation met this week with the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (MerSETA) to review the organisation’s performance, transformation goals, and training outcomes. However, the meeting briefly shifted into a heated exchange when Patriotic Alliance (PA) Member of Parliament Ashley Sauls raised questions about the use of the term “Africans” in MerSETA’s presentation.

MerSETA officials had presented demographic statistics highlighting training beneficiaries under the category “Africans.” Sauls, visibly concerned, interrupted the briefing to challenge what he described as a divisive classification. “So coloured are not African? Whites are not African? Indians are not African? Then you should have reported on Africans only,” he said, drawing murmurs across the committee room.

His remarks reignited the long-standing debate over racial terminology in government and institutional reports, particularly the continued use of apartheid-era racial classifications in employment and training data. Sauls argued that such distinctions undermine national unity and contradict the spirit of inclusion that Parliament should promote.

Committee Chairperson Nompendulo Mkhatshwa acknowledged the concern but urged members to allow MerSETA to conclude its presentation before discussing the issue in depth. “The matter of racial categorisation in reports is a sensitive and broader policy issue. We will engage the Department of Higher Education on whether there’s a need to review how such data is presented,” she said.

MerSETA Chairperson, Dr. Raymond Patel, responded by explaining that the authority follows definitions prescribed by the Department of Labour and the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act. “Our reporting categories align with national legislation, but we do recognise the need for continued dialogue on identity and inclusivity,” Patel stated.

Despite the brief confrontation, the meeting progressed to discuss key issues, including MerSETA’s skills development initiatives, partnerships with technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, and the placement of graduates in industry. The committee welcomed MerSETA’s ongoing efforts to enhance apprenticeship programmes and address youth unemployment.

Members also raised concerns about the slow transformation within certain industrial sectors, urging the SETA to ensure that opportunities reach historically disadvantaged communities across all provinces.

The committee resolved to invite the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Employment and Labour to a joint session aimed at harmonising demographic reporting standards.

While Sauls’ comments sparked debate, his intervention underscored the importance of language and identity in South Africa’s pursuit of equality and cohesion.