Timeline

The PSET Governance Breakdown: From Seta Scandals to the NSFAS Court Defeat

How ministerial overreach in the Post-School Education and Training sector escalated from Seta appointment scandals into a Public Protector probe and a High Court reversal.

Phase 1

Nkabane Seta Fallout

Dr Nobuhle Nkabane attempts to directly appoint Seta board chairpersons and misleads on advisers; President Ramaphosa axes her to maintain executive standards.

Phase 2

Manamela’s Seta Expansion

Minister Buti Manamela assumes office and attempts to appoint Seta CEOs past statutory deadlines; multiple Setas are forced under administrators (e.g., Lehlogonolo Masoga, Oupa Nkaone, LGSeta Administrator).

Phase 3

4 May 2026

NSFAS Board Resistance

Amid high-level board resignations, the remaining quorate NSFAS board resolves to appoint Mr Waseem Carrim as CEO; Manamela issues a 48-hour ultimatum and publishes Government Gazette No. 54607 to dissolve the board under Section 17A(1)(b).

Phase 4

Statutory Flaw & Adviser Spend

Manamela’s Gazette omits Section 17C, bypassing mandatory National Treasury concurrence; newly appointed Administrator Prof Hlengani Mathebula spends nearly R10 million on four advisers without Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s approval.

Phase 5

Parliamentary & Public Protector Fallout

Manamela and Mathebula face parliamentary grilling over unapproved spending; Public Protector Adv Kholeka Gcaleka issues a Section 7(9) notice highlighting R5.1-billion in improperly disbursed funds and a “near-permanent state of crisis”.

Phase 6

14 August 2026

Judicial Intervention

Judge Labuschagne suspends Mathebula over unconsidered Nugent Commission findings regarding his SARS history (Order 1) and reinstates the board (Order 2).