Latest news with #ButiManamela
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
New minister Bhuti Manamela brings nothing new
Western Cape High Court Judge President Nolwazi Penelope Mabindla-Boqwana conducts the swearing-in of newly-appointed Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela. Image: Kopano Tlape | GCIS NEWLY-APPOINTED Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela's track record contradicts his party, the ANC's claim that his leadership will advance access, equity, and quality in the higher education sector. He has been the higher education and training deputy minister for almost 10 years and it's safe to say that he watched the collapse of entities such as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). He was at the helm when poor students were forced to sleep rough on the floor of administration buildings because NSFAS failed to pay for their accommodation. He watched students being attacked by police with stun grenades and tear gas when they demanded to be registered. Manamela had the power to distance himself from his boss, the outgoing Nobuhle Nkabane when she misled Parliament on the controversial appointments of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) board members, which included Buyelembo Mantashe, the son of Nkabane's former boss and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe. We can go on and on about instances where Manamela chose to take the backseat while Rome was burning, literally. To expect South Africans to believe that he is the right person to turn that ministry's fortunes around is wishful thinking at best or insulting people's intelligence at worst. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ How do we expect a person who was part of the problem to be responsible for solutions? What his appointment signals is an attempt by the ANC to appease the SACP, Manamela's political home, which intends contesting next year's local government election in protest of the ANC governing with the DA in the so-called Government of National Unity. It's also to stabilise the fractured relations between the ANC and the DA coalition. If not, then why has Ramaphosa not fired other ministers implicated in serious corruption allegations? Nkabane's departure was long overdue. Her arrogance was the true reflection of what the ANC has become. No wonder voters continue rejecting it at the polls. The party's continued lip service to ethical leadership that is grounded in truly addressing the pressing needs of the majority of people of this country will see it lose the little power it still has on some of the key metros in the 2026 local government elections. Last year's national elections were just the beginning of an end. CAPE TIMES
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Outa concerned about new higher education minister
Outa keeps an eye on the department, having completed a report on corruption at NSFAS, and is now calling for action at Setas. Civil action organisation Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) is urging the new Minister of Higher Education Buti Manamela to take urgent action on corruption in the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas). Wayne Duvenage, CEO of Outa, said the new minister has a huge task ahead, as the Setas are mired in dysfunction, but Outa is concerned that he is too strongly linked to the old guard and the dysfunction and corruption in the department and its entities. 'While minister Manamela brings years of experience to the role, having served as a deputy minister in various portfolios since 2014, his long-standing presence within the higher education department raises serious concerns about continuity rather than change. 'Given his proximity to the dysfunction and corruption that plagued the department of higher education and its entities – particularly the Setas – for more than a decade, his appointment is not a welcome development for those demanding real reform and accountability.' ALSO READ: 'Emails' reveal Nkabane misled Parliament over Seta scandal – but insisted it wasn't intentional Outa on second deputy minister On Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa also appointed Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube as deputy minister of higher education and training. Duvenage said Outa did not expect the president to appoint a second deputy minister, as Mimmy Gondwe is already in place as the deputy. 'Over several years, Outa, exposed deep-rooted maladministration, governance failures and corruption at multiple Setas and at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). While there have been some positive developments, such as the appointments of Dr Karen Stander as NSFAS chair and Waseem Carrim as CEO, the Setas remain mired in dysfunction, with little sign of meaningful intervention.' He pointed out that despite repeated adverse findings and qualified audits from the auditor-general, the leadership at entities like the Insurance Seta, Construction Education and Training Authority, Services Seta, Education, Training and Development Practices Seta and Media, Information and Communication Technologies Seta remained intact. 'Executives implicated in mismanagement continue to draw large salaries and bonuses, while the essential mission of developing skills and improving employability is undermined. The Setas cost business taxpayers R21 billion a year, but do not deliver value for money. 'Outa urges minister Manamela to demonstrate a break from the past by acting swiftly and decisively to restore integrity and oversight across the Seta environment. This must begin with the urgent appointment of new Seta board chairs who are ethical, independent and free from political interference to ensure that executive management is properly held to account.' He said Outa will write to Manamela to request an urgent meeting to share the substantial evidence and insights Outa gathered over the years on systemic corruption within the Setas. ALSO READ: Nzimande pulls knives out as Outa stands by report claims Outa wins against former NSFAS chair Meanwhile the high court found last week that Outa did not have to give the former National Student Financial Aid Scheme chair a right of reply to the organisation's report on corruption at the entity. The Johannesburg High Court backed Outa over publication of its NSFAS report, ruling that former NSFAS chair Ernest Khosa did not have a right to pre-publication comment before Outa published a report implicating him in corruption. 'A person implicated in acts of corruption in a report published by a private actor does not have the right to a hearing prior to publication,' the court said. The dispute revolved around a report and statement Outa published about NSFAS and Khosa in early 2024, implicating him in corruption with NSFAS suppliers. Khosa resigned a few months later. Advocate Stefanie Fick, executive director at Outa's accountability division, said Khosa wanted the court to order Outa to remove the report from its website and order that he be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations, that the report only be republished once this was completed to his satisfaction and that the republished report contain an accurate record of his responses to each allegation. However, Outa refused to remove the report, but offered to hear Khosa's version and update the report accordingly, but Khosa declined. Khosa argued that he had a right to respond to the allegations before Outa released the report but the court found that no such legal obligation exists, especially for private actors acting in the public interest. ALSO READ: Higher education minister Nkabane announces new NSFAS board to drive reform Judgment means organisations like Outa can expose wrongdoing without right of reply Fick said the legal significance of this judgment lies in its clarification of the rights and obligations of private actors, such as Outa, when publishing reports implicating individuals in alleged wrongdoing. 'This judgment reaffirms our constitutional right to expose maladministration and corruption without facing undue procedural barriers. Khosa's attempt to silence public interest reporting under the guise of procedural fairness was rightly dismissed by the court.' Acting Judge GA Fourie found: Khosa had no right to a pre-publication notice because there is no requirement in law for Outa to notify individuals before publishing allegations in a public interest report; Outa, as a private entity, does not exercise public powers or perform public functions. Its investigations and publications are not binding and do not carry statutory authority. This distinction is critical in determining the scope of procedural obligations owed by private entities; The right to dignity and reputation does not override the constitutional protection of free speech, especially when allegations serve the public good; The appropriate legal avenue for challenging potentially defamatory content is through defamation proceedings, not through pre-publication interdicts; and Constitutional rights do not extend horizontally to impose obligations on private entities like Outa in the way Khosa claimed. ALSO READ: Don't let Andile Nongogo near public money – Outa Judgment protects civil society organisations to expose corruption Fick said this judgment reinforces the principle that private actors are not bound by the same procedural obligations as public entities. 'It also protects the ability of civil society organisations to expose corruption without undue interference, while preserving the common-law remedies available to individuals who feel aggrieved by such publications. 'Khosa did not complain that the Outa report was defamatory or deal with the veracity of the allegations against him. He did not even include the report in his founding papers. This gives rise to concerns that the intention was to prevent or delay publication of the report, or distort it, which should be avoided. 'The judge said 'the impact on the ability of whistle-blowers and other private actors to expose corruption would be significant'. The court dismissed the application with costs, noting that although the matter raised novel legal questions, there was no basis for granting the relief Khosa sought.'
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
South African president fires minister
In a swift response to recent controversies, President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Buti Manamela as the new Minister of Higher Education and Training. The decision follows Dr Nobuhle Nkabane's ousting, which she announced in a brief statement on Monday afternoon. Nkabane expressed her gratitude to President Ramaphosa for the opportunity to serve in such a critical role, stating, 'I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, for entrusting me with the responsibility to serve as Minister of Higher Education and Training.' Minutes after her statement, Ramaphosa announced Manamela's appointment as well as Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, who will be serving as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training. The reshuffling comes as Nkabane faced intense scrutiny particularly for her alleged misleading of Parliament regarding the process of appointing the SETA board members. Reports emerged indicating that the list of appointees was heavily influenced by affiliations with the African National Congress (ANC), incorporating figures such as Buyambo, the son of Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe. Last week, Nkabane came under fire after failing to appear before Parliament to account for the controversial appointments. She instead opted to attend a GBV event in the Eastern Cape. Nkabane sent a last-minute apology to the portfolio committee, citing a gender-based violence (GBV) event at a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college in the Eastern Cape as the reason for her absence. Her apology was rejected by committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie. Letsie said after receiving the letter, he told Nkabane that he is not accepting her apology because it does not make sense for her to be absent from the meeting. Nkabane was expected to brief members again on the SETA board selection process, which was eventually reversed. Many of the appointees were allegedly linked to the ANC, which raised concerns over political interference and nepotism. Although Nkabane previously told MPs that the selections were made by an 'independent' panel chaired by Advocate Terry Motau, Motau denied any involvement. First published by IOL
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Ramaphosa Axes Accused Minister Before South African Budget Vote
South Africa's president ousted his embattled education minister, clearing the path to secure backing from a key coalition partner for crucial budget legislation that's set to go before lawmakers this week. Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane is being replaced by Buti Manamela, the presidency said in a statement on Monday, without providing reasons for the change. Nkabane has faced allegations of lying to parliament, which she has denied.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Fixing Higher Education Rot: Tough Road Ahead for Buti Manamela
New Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela on a site visit to the Central Applications Clearing House (CACH) call centre in Durban. Manamela has been Deputy Minister since 2014, so he understands the changing ANC and higher education landscape better than most, says the writer. Image: DOCTOR NGCOBO/Independent Newspapers Edwin Naidu Removing Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, just before National Women's Month, was poor timing. Her predecessor, Dr Blade Nzimande, whose hapless legacy on tertiary education is unfolding horribly, was undeservedly in the role for more than 15 years. Nkabane was dealt a poor hand. One must question the bona fides of President Cyril Ramaphosa's commitment to gender parity and combating corruption. However, many will agree that the former deputy to Gwede Mantashe at the Ministry of Minerals and Energy was out of her depth in the tertiary education portfolio. But thrusting her into the higher education cesspool without considering the extent of the challenges was unfair. She had no chance of success and was destined to fail. This emerged especially after her botched list of appointees for Sector Education and Training Authorities (Seta). Earmarked for one of the Seta chair roles was Gwede's son, Buyambo Mantashe, resulting in controversy that led to the rescinding of all the appointments. When the row commenced, predictably, Ramaphosa did nothing. Ahead of National Women's Month, Nkabane is gone, and the crucial Higher Education and Training portfolio has returned to a male. It is someone we know well, too. The question is, will the affable Buti Manamela, a well-liked and respected leader from the South African Communist Party, put South Africa first? Or will he stick with the faltering party to which he is not entirely beholden? Or will he be beholden to his friends? That's some of the murmur doing the rounds. Manamela has been Deputy Minister since 2014, so he understands the changing ANC and higher education landscape better than most. He performs well, to the extent that his former boss, Nzimande, once criticised him for gaining more publicity. To his credit, Manamela stayed silent and continued with his work. One feels that Ramaphosa erred in not giving the Young Communist League and the African National Congress leader the job last year. At least he managed to rectify one error. Much depends on the broad shoulders of Manamela. He has a wide smile and oozes confidence. But what South Africa needs is for Manamela to break ranks with the ANC to ensure that the country gets a quality tertiary system. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The higher education system continues to survive, but it is broken. Universities face a variety of challenges, including funding and governance. Setas are in a mess. The National Skills Fund has not delivered on its mandate. Ironically, despite the negative publicity, Nkabane managed to strengthen the National Student Financial Aid Scheme significantly. Under the new chairperson, Karin Stander, and acting chief executive, Waseem Carrim, efforts are in progress to address the issues of the past. Although she had been silent, many believed that Nkabane was strongly trying to get to grips with the corruption among the Setas. Her nemesis, Sihle Ngubane, the former Chairperson of the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority, is now an MP, serving on the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training. According to reports, under his watch, INSETA allegedly sanctioned dodgy tenders, and was the subject of various investigations. INSETA CEO Gugu Mkhize presided over three qualified audits. In any other organisation, she would have been fired. When the respected industry player, the Graduate Institute of Financial Services, raised a red flag over her conduct, she promptly de-accredited the organisation. GIFS has taken INSETA to court for R240 million. Nkabane was working to settle. As the political principal, she was aware that the Seta CEO's belligerence would be an indictment of her leadership. And she was prepared to act. Sources say that she was going to push for a settlement of at least half that amount. The first task facing Manamela is to read his friend the riot act. As Deputy Minister, Manamela has graced several INSETA events and is prominently featured on their social media pages. His predecessor was attempting to clean up the poor-performing Setas, dealing with errant performers, such as Gugu Mkhize, and the rudderless Construction Education and Training Authority, whose CEO is said to be like a dictator. Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), which has raised alarm over the extent of corruption at Setas, is aware of the alleged friendship between Manamela and Mkhize. It's all over Facebook. The organisation says it will ask for a meeting to discuss the brazen Mkhize. Manamela's first test should be how he deals with the errant Mkhize and the shenanigans at INSETA. What about the damaging lawsuit? Nkabane has passed the baton. And he has inherited a new yet old drama from the Construction Set. Another priority is addressing the funding challenges facing tertiary institutions. There are others, but let's not inundate the new broom. I'd rather focus on what he loves talking about most. When it comes to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), for Manamela, no subject arouses as much enthusiasm as the prospect of TVET colleges transforming the workplace and addressing the country's youth unemployment. Manamela passionately describes the potential for shifting the dial for South African youth through these skills-based learning institutions, which are geared towards contributing to the economy. He believes that graduates from TVET are more employable than those from universities. If it is going to make a dent in the country's unemployment figures, Manamela's optimism must translate into positive results. As a product of Mamelodi TVET College, Manamela knows what he's talking about. His youthful face, not masked by the distinguished beard he sometimes sports, lights up when TVET is discussed, particularly its impact on the future. Manamela completed matric at Phagameng High School in Modimolle. he studied towards his N-Certificate in Electronics at Mamelodi College until 2001, completing his Post-Graduate Diploma (2014) and Master of Management in Public Policy at the University of the Witwatersrand (2017). Manamela says TVET colleges throughout the country should offer coding, programming and robotics to broaden the skills for the 21st century. Youthful Manamela is experienced and certainly has reasonable solutions. Nobody doubts the hard road ahead. But let's give him a chance to show his mettle and see whether he is up to the task of putting South Africa first: serving the people, the party or his friends. Buti Manamela: Your mission, now that you have accepted, is possible! * Edwin Naidu is the head of education start-up Higher Education Media Services (HEMS). ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
