PRETORIA — Higher Education Minister has confirmed that the Public Service Commission (PSC) is investigating allegations that the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Director-General interfered in the transfer and appointment of former KwaZulu-Natal Regional Manager, Mr Bheki Ngubane.
The revelation emerged in a written Parliamentary reply to a question from uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party MP Mnqobi Prince Msezane, marking the first official confirmation that the allegations have been escalated to South Africa’s constitutional oversight body.
According to the Minister, the allegations could implicate not only the Director-General but also other departmental officials.
“As the allegations may implicate the Director-General and other departmental officials, the Minister referred the matter to the Public Service Commission for an independent investigation,” the reply states.
The referral was sent to the PSC on 29 June 2026.
Less than a month later, on 22 July, the Commission formally confirmed that it would investigate the matter under reference number N2026/07/007 and appointed an investigating team.
The investigation has already progressed to the evidence-gathering stage.
On 27 July, the Commission requested departmental records relating to the appointment, with the department now compiling an indexed record for submission.
While the Minister has acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, Parliament has been told there is currently no indication when the investigation will be completed.
“The Commission has not provided a date by which the investigation will be completed,” the Minister said, adding that Parliament would only be informed once the PSC has concluded its investigation, considered any ministerial comments on provisional findings and issued its final report.
The Parliamentary reply sheds little light on the substance of the allegations or the circumstances surrounding Mr Ngubane’s transfer and appointment. However, the decision to refer the matter externally, rather than handling it through an internal departmental process, signals the Minister’s view that an independent investigation is necessary.
The Public Service Commission is constitutionally mandated to promote professional ethics, investigate personnel practices within the public service and ensure appointments comply with the principles of fairness, transparency and merit.
Should the PSC substantiate the allegations, its findings could have significant implications for governance and accountability within one of government’s largest departments, particularly if senior officials are found to have improperly influenced recruitment processes.
For now, the investigation remains underway, with Parliament expected to receive the Commission’s findings once the process has been completed.
