WATCH | Government listens when it messes up – Ramaphosa on Seta crisis

Ramaphosa

Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded to public backlash over the appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairpersons, including Buyambo Mantashe — son of Minister Gwede Mantashe  —as chair of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Seta (MERSETA) board..

The controversy, seen as nepotistic, led to political uproar, including a heated parliamentary session where an EFF MP Sihle Lonzi was removed after challenging Buyambo Mantashe’s appointment.

In response, Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane withdrew all appointments and announced the selection process would restart, overseen by an independent panel.

The new process will prioritise merit, experience, and balanced representation.

Ramaphosa acknowledged the appointments as a “mistake” and praised the government’s willingness to correct errors.

“There was a problem, an issue which the minister is trying to correct now and I think it’s important to realise that where, for instance, the public sector mistakes are made, immediately we are able to listen to the criticism, the voices of those in the community and immediately take corrective measures. So that’s what this is.

“We should also be grateful that we have a government that listens even where it has made mistakes. Mistakes are made and the important thing is to listen and to correct,” Ramaphosa said while speaking to the media on Friday in Kimberley.

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