Nkabane removed as higher education minister, replaced by Buti Manamela
Manamela will replace Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, who issued a statement thanking Ramaphosa for entrusting her with the responsibility of serving as a minister.
Manamela had served as deputy minister of higher education and training, a role he held from the seventh administration.
'Consequently, President Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, deputy minister of higher education and training,' the presidency said in a statement.
The presidency said Dube's long government leadership experience included serving as MEC for co-operative government and traditional affairs and premier of KwaZulu-Natal.
'Section 93 (b) (of the constitution) empowers the president to appoint no more than two deputy ministers from outside the [National] Assembly.'
The Sunday Times reported that Nkabane was facing the chop after being accused of lying to parliament about the appointment of the controversial panel to appoint sector education and training authorities (Seta) boards.
The Sunday Times has previously reported Ramaphosa and the ANC's top officials had resolved she had compromised the party and her position in the cabinet.
After her removal on Monday, Nkabane said: 'It has been a privilege to lead this important portfolio and I am grateful to the sector and the people of South Africa for their support and for allowing me to serve in this capacity.'
TimesLIVE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: Ramaphosa: Police probe within year
Here's your daily news update for Friday, 25 July 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. News today includes with some South Africans voicing their concern that the judicial commission of inquiry into the police will take too long, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday it mustn't take more than a year. Meanwhile, South Africa's law enforcement and criminal justice systems are a mess because the people running them are either corrupt, incompetent, or leave under a cloud because of political plotting, say experts. Furthermore, the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in South Africa has led to a significant increase in meat prices over the past three months. Weather tomorrow: 25 July 2025 Most provinces are in for a cloudy and wet day, while rough seas are expected to affect navigation between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. Ramaphosa says Madlanga commission mustn't take more than one year With some South Africans voicing their concern that the judicial commission of inquiry into the police will take too long, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday it mustn't take more than a year. Two weeks ago, Ramaphosa announced his decision to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Picture: Gallo Images Among these were claims that police minister Senzo Mchunu – now on special leave – intervened to disband the KZN political killings task team in order to shield individuals linked to politically connected crime syndicates. CONTINUE READING: Ramaphosa says Madlanga commission mustn't take more than one year Evidence challenged in Jayden-Lee Meek murder investigation The investigating officer in the Jayden-Lee Meek murder case faced intense scrutiny during Friday's proceedings in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court, with the defence questioning critical evidence and investigative procedures. Investigating officer Nceba Diko outlined multiple red flags in suspect Tiffany Meek's behaviour while defending his investigative methods against accusations of procedural failures. Tiffany Meek in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court for a bail hearing in the murder case of her son, Jayden-Lee Meek. Picture: Gallo Images Defence attorney Noven Naidoo on Wednesday had presented Bolt e-hailing records showing Tiffany Meek left her mother's house at 5.12am on 14 May, contradicting security guard statements that placed her at the residence between 4am and 5am. CONTINUE READING: Evidence challenged in Jayden-Lee Meek murder investigation How political interference hollowed out Saps and NPA South Africa's law enforcement and criminal justice systems are a mess because the people running them are either corrupt, incompetent, or leave under a cloud because of political plotting, say experts. The instability at the top then permeates down to the lower levels of both the police and prosecuting authorities, leading to the gradual collapse SA is witnessing at the moment, they said. Picture: Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu/Michel Bega Both the South African Police Service (Saps) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) have seen their organisational and political heads come and go with depressing regularity, often under a cloud. CONTINUE READING: How political interference hollowed out Saps and NPA Ramaphosa motion of no confidence: MK party requests secret ballot The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has requested a secret ballot in a proposed motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party's deputy president, John Hlophe, wrote to speaker of parliament Thoko Didiza on Thursday. President Cyril Ramaphosa. Picture: GCIS He gave several reasons why the MK party wanted the vote to be done through a secret ballot. CONTINUE READING: Ramaphosa motion of no confidence: MK party requests secret ballot Bad news for meat lovers in South Africa The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in South Africa has led to a significant increase in meat prices over the past three months. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact. The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. Picture: iStock Over the past months, SA has seen outbreaks in Gauteng, Limpopo, the Eastern Cape and the Free State. Recently, the department of agriculture lifted restrictions in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces after implementing intensified efforts to contain the spread of the disease. CONTINUE READING: Bad news for meat lovers in South Africa Here are five more stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Gupta house sold | Meyiwa accused want charges dropped | Tammy Taylor victim speaks
IOL News
12 hours ago
- IOL News
KZN political killings task team did ‘tremendous work,' says Ramaphosa, but Mkhwanazi disagrees
President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the disbanded political killings task team in KwaZulu-Natal, saying it did 'tremendous work,' before its closure. Image: IOL Graphics President Cyril Ramaphosa insists the disbanded political killings task team in KwaZulu-Natal has done "tremendous work" over the years, despite claims from police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that the team's dissolution derailed more than 100 active murder cases. 'The political task team on the killings in KZN has been doing its work and has done tremendous work,' Ramaphosa said on Friday during a high-level meeting with the Northern Cape Provincial Executive. 'The killings then started coming down in KZN, the political killings. So the complaints that have been raised by the KZN police commissioner have to be investigated.' Mkhwanazi has accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who was recently placed on special leave, of political interference and protecting criminals. He alleged that Mchunu disbanded the task team in March, effectively closing 121 active dockets, many of which are tied to politically motivated assassinations. He said the cases were stored in the office of Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, who has also been placed on leave. Mkhwanazi said since its formation in 2018, the task team has handled 612 cases and secured more than 100 convictions. He said efforts to shut down the unit escalated after weapons linked to high-profile assassinations were uncovered. The top cop described the disbandment as 'a calculated move to shield a criminal syndicate embedded in law enforcement and politics.' In a December 2024 letter to National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, Mchunu claimed the unit had 'outlived its usefulness.' However, Masemola later denied authorising the closure. Mkhwanazi also alleged that investigations exposed links between criminal syndicates and politicians, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, and businesspeople. He also implicated Mchunu's 'comrade,' Brown Mogotsi, in communicating with businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, who had received a now-cancelled R360 million SAPS contract. Ramaphosa has since announced the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the corruption allegations. The commission will be led by Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. 'Those have to be investigated, and that is why I set up the commission. I expect that this commission, whose terms of reference are now out, will work very quickly,' he said. Ramaphosa said the commission is expected to deliver an initial report within three months and a final report within six months. He added that if more time is needed, he will consult with Madlanga. 'This is a commission that everyone in the country would like to see quick answers coming from,' he said. The commission has now been officially gazetted and will focus on alleged political interference, criminal syndicates operating within law enforcement, and deep-rooted corruption in the province. Meanwhile, the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has filed a no-confidence motion against Ramaphosa regarding his choice to retain Police Mchunu rather than dismissing him. Instead, Mchunu has been placed on leave while a judicial commission of inquiry is set up. As a result, the party has taken its case to the Constitutional Court to contest President Ramaphosa's decision to put Mchunu on special leave, as well as the subsequent appointment of Professor Firoz Cachalia as the acting Police Minister. The party is requesting an urgent Parliament session to convene within the next two weeks to discuss and vote on the motion. [email protected] IOL Politics
The Citizen
13 hours ago
- The Citizen
Ramaphosa says Madlanga commission mustn't take more than one year
The president, however, conceded that the commission's timeframe could be extended if needed. With some South Africans voicing their concern that the judicial commission of inquiry into the police will take too long, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday it mustn't take more than a year. Two weeks ago, Ramaphosa announced his decision to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Among these were claims that police minister Senzo Mchunu – now on special leave – intervened to disband the KZN political killings task team in order to shield individuals linked to politically connected crime syndicates. Mkhwanazi also alleged Mchunu had connections to tenderpreneur Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, a figure who previously held a now-cancelled R360 million police contract. ALSO READ: NA agrees to establish ad hoc committee to investigate Mkhwanazi's allegations The inquiry, to be chaired by outgoing deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, will probe allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption in South Africa's criminal justice system. This includes key institutions such as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the South African Police Service (Saps) and the State Security Agency (SSA). According to the terms of reference published this week in the Government Gazette, the commission has been empowered to summon individuals for testimony, among other functions. The commission is expected to deliver a preliminary report in three months and a final report within six months of its formation. [DOWNLOAD]: Judicial Commission of Inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption in the Criminal Justice System arising from the specific allegations made public by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 6 July 2025. 🔗 July 23, 2025 Ramaphosa on Madlanga commission timelines Speaking to the media in the Northern Cape on Friday, Ramaphosa said that the political task team in KZN had already made progress and has done 'tremendous work'. 'The killings then started coming down in KZN, so the complaints that have been raised by the KZN police commissioner have to be investigated. 'Those have to be investigated and that is why I set up the commission,' he said. The president reiterated his expectation that the commission's work would be conducted swiftly and conclude its work within a year. 'I expect that this commission, whose terms of reference are now out, will work very quickly and we've put clear timeframes. We would like a report within three months and another report within another three months. READ MORE: 'Same as Phala Phala' – Police committee member not optimistic about Mchunu investigations 'So I'm looking at a period which is no more than a year. In fact, I would like us to get to the bottom of all what the police commissioner of KZN alleged to be addressed and answers to come out within a short space of time,' Ramaphosa said. He also conceded that the timeframe could be extended if needed. 'If they need time to be extended, then we will talk to the judge and see how much time needs to be extended. 'But this is a commission that everyone in the country would like to see quick answers coming from.'
