EFF accuses Manamela of perjury over conflicting testimony on SETA consultations

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have laid a complaint of perjury with the Public Protector and the South African Police Service (SAPS) against the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela.

The party claims that Minister Manamela gave conflicting submissions in court papers and in Parliament regarding whether he held meetings with the National Skills Authority (NSA) before placing three Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) under administration.

The EFF warns that Manamela risks facing a fate similar to that of his predecessor, Nobuhle Nkabane, who was removed from Cabinet after she misled Parliament over SETA board appointments.

The Allegation of Conflicting Accounts
EFF Member of Parliament (MP), Sihle Lonzi, explained the core of the complaint. When Minister Manamela released a gazette in August placing three SETAs under administration, he was legally required to consult with the National Skills Authority and the SETAs in question.

"When he came to Parliament he took MPs in his confidence and told them that he did not consult with the NSA and SETAs,"Lonzi stated.

However, Lonzi says that the party was surprised when Manamela filed an answering affidavit against the Local Government SETA, which had taken him to court. In the affidavit, the Minister allegedly claimed he personally consulted with the NSA on the 7th of August.

Lonzi highlighted the contradiction: Manamela gave a different version in Parliament last month.

"What is clear here at the time is that the Minister was lying to Parliament or the Minister was lying to the courts of South Africa because these two versions are mutually exclusive."

Lonzi asserted that Manamela told a "material lie" to the court in an attempt to influence the outcome of the Local Government SETA's court challenge.