Ramaphosa axes Nkabane as Higher Education Minister after Seta appointments saga
President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane from his Cabinet.
Nkabane's sacking comes amid allegations of corruption over the appointments of the chairpersons of the 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (Seta) boards that included ANC members.
In a statement on Monday night, 21 July, the Presidency announced that Ramaphosa had appointed Buti Manamela as the new Minister of Higher Education and Training. Manamela was previously deputy minister of Higher Education and Training.
'President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed Dr Nobuhle Nkabane from the role of Minister and Higher Education and Training and has, in terms of Section 91 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, appointed Mr Buti Kgwaridi Manamela, Minister of Higher Education and Training. Mr Manamela was, until this appointment, serving as Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, a role he held from the 6th administration,' read the statement.
Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube as deputy minister.
'Dr Dube's long government leadership experience includes serving as MEC for Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs and Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, amongst other roles,' the statement said.
Ncube was among the Seta board chairpersons who were to be appointed by Nkabane. Nkabane later withdrew the contentious appointments after a public outcry.
President @CyrilRamaphosa has, in terms of Section 91 (2) and Section 93 (b) of the Constitution, appointed Mr. Buti Kgwaridi Manamela and Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, as Minister and Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, respectively. https://t.co/ZiGDIqpgEc pic.twitter.com/F2zCvxC2Lq
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) July 21, 2025
In a statement announcing her departure, Nkabane thanked the President 'for entrusting her with the responsibility' of serving as Higher Education Minister.
'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. I remain committed to the service of our people and the advancement of our country's development,' she said.
Nkabane was sworn in as Higher Education and Training Minister on 3 July 2024. Her removal brings to an end a tumultuous tenure, marred by allegations of corruption and accusations that she misled Parliament amid the contentious Seta boards appointments that sparked public outrage and legal and parliamentary scrutiny.
Minister @Dr_NobuhleN would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, for entrusting her with the responsibility to serve as Minister of Higher Education and Training. pic.twitter.com/nyNrIL36lu
— HigherEducationZA (@HigherEduGovZA) July 21, 2025
Several of the 21 Seta board chairpersons appointments were linked to ANC politicians, including Gwede Mantashe's son, Buyambo Mantashe, who had been appointed chairperson of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Seta. Other contentious appointees were Dube-Ncube and former ANC KwaZulu-Natal provincial deputy chairperson Mike Mabuyakhulu.
This led to MPs demanding that Nkabane account to the parliamentary committee on higher education over the appointments. However, Nkabane provided responses that misled Parliament – claiming that she established an independent panel to assist her in making the appointments and that no corruption was involved.
Nkabane disclosed the names of five panellists who assisted her – advocate Terry Motau SC as chairperson, her chief of staff Nelisiwe Semane, Seta director Mabuza Ngubane, the department's deputy director-general Rhulani Ngwenya and adviser Asisipho Solani.
However, in shocking revelations, Motau revealed that he had never been formally appointed to chair the panel. He said Nkabane was aware that he was not part of the panel. Semane, Ngubane and Ngwenya also denied their involvement.
On Friday, 18 July, Nkabane snubbed the parliamentary committee meeting and avoided accountability over the independent panellists' issue and the process of appointing the chairpersons. Only Ngubane and Motau appeared to testify and said that Nkabane had indeed misled Parliament.
Previously, Daily Maverick reported that Ramaphosa asked Nkabane to report to him about her behaviour in Parliament, including chewing food while responding to questions from MPs about the now withdrawn Seta appointments.
Reactions
The DA has laid charges against Nkabane that include fraud and statutory offences under section 26 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislature Act 4 of 2004.
The party welcomed Ramaphosa's axing of Nkabane. However, DA national spokesperson Karabo Khakhau told Daily Maverick that Ramaphosa had taken too long and that people deserved better.
'Our call as the Democratic Alliance has been to make sure that the appointment of people to Seta's spaces is detoxed from cadre deployment so that we're able to see the realisation of the true mandate of the Seta state itself. So this is what we want to see. Minister Nabane lied, and she committed fraud.
'So even though the President fired her, our case that is now being investigated by the Hawks is still going to be pursued. The same way Tony Yengeni was found guilty, Nobuhle Nkabane must be found guilty. Equally, she must face jail time,' said Khakhau.
An ANC statement extended its 'gratitude' to Nkabane for her service, and wished her well. The party welcomed the appointments of Manamela and Dube-Ncube.
'The ANC is confident that this new leadership team will advance access, equity and quality in the higher education sector… These appointments reaffirm our commitment to [a] capable, ethical, and developmental state,' it said.
The MK party noted Nkabane's 'necessary' and 'long overdue' removal from office.
'The former minister's failure to account for the irregular and unlawful allocation of the … Seta board positions raised serious questions about the so-called Government of National Unity's governance, their lack of transparency and the severe political interference that has become quite characteristic of the former liberation movement.
'It was evident that the appointments disproportionately favoured individuals with strong ties to the ANC: a pattern that cannot be ignored in a constitutional democracy such as South Africa,' read a statement from the party. DM
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