Minister Parks Tau to explain IDC appointments before committee

Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, is set to explain the appointment of the three ANC associates who were recently named to the board of the Industrial Development Corporation  (IDC).

The Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition said it has requested Tau to appear before it on July 22 and explain his decision. 

This was after the EFF wrote to the committee requesting Tau to appear and account for the appointments of Ayanda Dlodlo, Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Dr Sydney Mufamadi, claiming the appointments are “politically motivated”.

Dlodlo and Mufamadi are former Cabinet Ministers, while Dube-Ncube is a former KwaZulu-Natal Premier. 

The EFF said the three are deeply entrenched ANC loyalists, with lengthy careers inside government structures under the ANC-led administration.

 The party added that the appointments were not only inappropriate but fundamentally undermined the IDC’s role as a developmental finance institution tasked with advancing industrial transformation, supporting black industrialists, and building inclusive economic growth. 

The party wants Tau to explain the process followed in selecting these individuals to the IDC board. 

The EFF said he should also explain the criteria used to determine their suitability, and whether they possess the industrial or developmental expertise and experience to justify their appointment.

“Due to the nature of the concern raised, we have requested the Minister to appear to explain the process as well as his decision, said the committee’s chairperson, Mzwandile Masina.

In a letter issued to Tau on  July 4, Masina said he is of the view that it would be prudent for the committee to receive a briefing on the process followed in the recent appointments to the IDC board. 

Masina said this would include the qualifications, experience of the appointees, and the alignment of these decisions with the IDC’s developmental mandate. 

“I have received a letter from Mr Sinawo Thambo, MP, dated 27 June 2025, in which he raises a number of concerns regarding recent appointments to the board of the IDC, and calls for an urgent meeting with you. Section 55 of the Constitution, together with the Rules of the National Assembly (NA Rule 227 (b), (c), (e)), grants committees oversight powers. Therefore, the committee may call the Minister to account for the processes followed.”

“Notwithstanding these provisions, the committee recognises that it is important to ensure that appointments to public entities are conducted in accordance with the principles of good governance, transparency, and merit. At the same time, I acknowledge constraints imposed by the doctrine of separation of powers, which provides that the executive retains the prerogative to make such appointments, subject to compliance with applicable legal and policy frameworks,” said Masina, adding that it would be appreciated if Tau could formally address the allegations. 

Questions were sent to Tau’s spokesperson, Kaamil Alli, who did not respond. 

However, Tau defended his decision during the debate following his Budget Vote speech on Friday, saying it was disingenuous to simply suggest that capability is limited by the fact that you are affiliated with the ANC.

manyane.manyane@inl.co.za