The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests on Tuesday recommended a formal reprimand and apology from former Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane for her failure to “exercise due care” in the appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairpersons.

The Joint Committee found that Nkabane breached the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests.

Last year the Democratic Alliance (DA) had laid criminal charges against Nkabane for allegedly lying to Parliament that the panel tasked with appointing Seta board chairpersons consisted of independent people. She subsequently informed Parliament that they were not independent at all.

DA Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training member Karabo Khakhau had pointed out that Nkabane had abused the name of senior legal expert Advocate Terry Motau, claiming that he chaired her independent panel.

The Joint Committee said its investigation revealed that Nkabane had left the recruitment and selection of the panel to her adviser Asisipho Solani and did not follow up with him on whether the panel was appointed or how it was constituted.

Nkabane blamed 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.

Nkabane has since been removed as Minister by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who replaced her with Buti Manamela.

In considering the penalty against Nkabane, the Joint Committee said it had taken into account the fact that Ramaphosa had already dismissed her from her Cabinet position.