EFF slams ‘unconstitutional’ removal of its MP Sihle Lonzi over question on Gwede Mantashe’s son

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has condemned what it called the unconstitutional conduct and abuse of power by chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education Tebogo Letsie, after its MP Sihle Lonzi was forcibly removed after asking about the alleged appointment of Gwede Mantashe’s son to a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board.

EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo condemned Lonzi’s removal as a “violent suppression of accountability” and an abuse of authority.

“Instead of allowing the DG to respond to this legitimate inquiry, Chairperson Tebogo Letsie, backed by ANC-aligned committee members, shut down the question, disrupted proceedings, and proceeded to call in parliamentary security personnel to forcibly remove Commissar Lonzi from the meeting,” Thambo said.

“Let it be known that Commissar Lonzi’s only ‘crime’ was demanding accountability. His question directly addressed the politicisation, cadre deployment, and corruption that have become the defining feature of the ANC’s relationship with public institutions,” he added.

Lonzi’s confrontation follows the circulation of a leaked list of SETA board appointments that sparked political backlash and accusations of “political patronage.”

Thambo claimed the appointments are “glaring examples of political patronage,” adding that SETAs are being turned into “ANC deployment zones” for loyal cadres and relatives of senior party members.

The ANC in Parliament rejected the allegations, describing them as “spurious” and accusing the EFF of staging a coordinated attack on Letsie.

“Honourable Lonzi is on a wild goose chase,” the party said in a statement. 

“Cde Tebogo Letsie was fulfilling his duty as chairperson to ensure that the committee’s agenda was adhered to and that the meeting did not degenerate into chaos.”

The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education also criticised Lonzi’s conduct. 

Committee spokesperson Jabulani Majozi said the accusation that Letsie was shielding the director general was “regrettable,” especially since Lonzi was absent when the committee agreed on how to handle the matter.

Chaos erupts at Parliament

On Wednesday, IOL News reported that chaos erupted on Wednesday during the meeting when security officers removed Lonzi after questioning the appointment of Buyambo Mantashe, son of ANC Chairperson and Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe, to the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (MERSETA) board.

In a video shared on social media, Lonzi is seen clashing with Letsie while pressing the director general of the Department of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nkosinathi Sishi, for answers. 

Lonzi insisted on using his allocated time to raise concerns about alleged political appointments, despite Letsie’s repeated attempts to shift the discussion.

“DG, have you made appointments to the board chairpersons of SETAs?” Lonzi asked.

Letsie responded that the question had already been dealt with before Lonzi’s late arrival.

He added that the matter fell outside of the director general’s authority. 

Letsie said the question was better directed to Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Nobuhle Nkabane.

“We also have a legislative prerogative to assist one another,” Letsie said. “The DG will not know.”

As tensions escalated, Lonzi accused the chairperson of shielding Sishi from accountability.“You are becoming his lawyer,” Lonzi said. 

“I’m not asking you, I’m asking the DG. He’s here. He can speak. He understands English.”

Letsie eventually ordered security to remove Lonzi from the chamber. 

As he was escorted out, Lonzi shouted, “You’re protecting corruption?”

“Why am I being chased out? Because the chairperson is protecting corruption? The son of Gwede Mantashe, a minister, gets appointed to the boards of SETAs. I ask a question, and then I must be chased out?” he said.

The leaked list

The appointments, made by Minister Nkabane, include:

Buyambo Mantashe, chairperson of the MERSETA board;

Nomusa Dube-Ncube, former KwaZulu-Natal premier, chairperson of the BANKSETA board;

Siboniso Mbhele,  head of the KZN Department of Transport, appointed to the TETA board;

Loyiso Masuku, ANC deputy regional secretary in Johannesburg, appointed to the FOODBEV board.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics