Latest news with #NobuhleNkabane
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Nkabane's dismissal shows performance is finally being prioritised
Poor leadership, policy missteps, and stakeholder neglect made Nkabane's position in higher education untenable. Dr Nobuhle Nkabane at the official launch of the National Skills Fund (NSF) Disabilities Programme Phase I at Blind SA. (Photo by Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi) There was little surprise this week when President Cyril Ramaphosa fired higher education and training minister Nobuhle Nkabane as her position became untenable. She misled parliament in a portfolio committee regarding the appointments of the Sector Education and Training Authority board. Her short stint at the helm of one of the most complex and politically sensitive portfolios was also marred by administrative missteps, a breakdown in communication with key stakeholders, and a failure to provide clear, strategic leadership during a critical time for the sector. While Cabinet reshuffles often raise questions about internal party dynamics, this decision appears to have been driven by performance and public outcry, rather than politics. Nkabane inherited a department already under immense strain. South Africa's higher education sector faces a multitude of challenges: from underfunding and student debt to overcrowded institutions and a widening gap between education and employment. ALSO READ: Why the ANC remains a safe haven for corruption Rather than stepping into the role with decisiveness and clarity, Nkabane struggled to manage the operational demands of the department. Her most notable failure was her mishandling of the crisis surrounding the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas). The rollout of a new direct payment system, using third-party service providers, led to widespread delays, disbursement errors, and student protests across the country. Despite repeated warnings from student unions and technical experts, the department failed to take corrective action or adequately communicate with affected students. Nkabane's public appearances during this period often came across as defensive, reinforcing perceptions that she was out of depth. Compounding the Nsfas debacle was a broader failure to engage constructively with the very stakeholders she was meant to lead. Student organisations such as the South African Union of Students accused her of ignoring urgent meeting requests during protest actions. ALSO READ: Parliament concludes Seta panel never existed Several university vice-chancellors also reported difficulty engaging with her office on campus safety, infrastructure development and funding allocations. At a time when decisive leadership and open communication were essential, Nkabane remained inaccessible and silent, allowing tensions to escalate on campuses. Perhaps most telling, however, was her inability to articulate a long-term vision for the department. Her public addresses were laced with vague commitments to transformation and inclusion, but these sentiments were rarely backed by concrete policy or institutional reform. No significant advances were made in addressing curriculum reform, expanding digital access, or tackling the mismatch between higher education output and labour market needs. Her leadership simply did not inspire confidence. In contrast, the promotion of Buti Manamela to the ministerial position represents a return to experience and substance. Having served as deputy minister for several years, Manamela has built a solid reputation for being hands-on, accessible and knowledgeable. ALSO READ: Five things you need to know about the new higher education minister Buti Manamela Ramaphosa's decision to remove Nkabane and elevate Manamela should be viewed as more than a political adjustment – it is a statement about the value of competence in public office. For far too long, Cabinet appointments have been seen as rewards for loyalty rather than results. In this instance, the move suggests a growing recognition that performance must take precedence, especially in departments that impact millions of young South Africans and the future of the country's economy. While this shift is welcome, it must not stop here. The education sector requires leadership that is responsive, accountable and visionary. In firing Nkabane and promoting Manamela, Ramaphosa has taken a step towards restoring integrity and functionality in higher education. The hope now is that this signals the beginning of a broader commitment to putting the right people in the right places – for the right reasons. NOW READ: 'Long overdue' – Opposition parties welcome Nkabane's removal
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
South Africa's Ramaphosa Axes Education Minister
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa ousted his Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, easing tensions within the governing alliance and clearing the path for the national budget to be approved. Bloomberg's Jennifer Zabasajja reports. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Nkabane's axing saves budget as first phase of Appropriations Bill is approved
Former minister of higher education Nobuhle Nkabane. (X) The National Assembly has approved the 2025-26 Appropriations Bill by 262 votes to 90, pushing through the first step in finalising the national budget, despite tension in the All 10 parties that form the GNU — the ANC, Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Freedom Front Plus (FF+), Good party, Rise Mzansi, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), the United Democratic Movement (UDM) and Al Jama-ah — supported the Bill. The vote followed a day-long sitting at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, where Deputy Finance Minister 'Without passing this Bill, the government will lose authority to spend beyond 45% of last year's budget after July,' Masondo said. This meant departments would not be able to pay salaries or sustain basic services. He urged MPs to stay focused and ensure that service delivery was not interrupted. 'This Bill must be passed in full to allow departments to function properly,' he said. The Bill allocates R1.2 trillion over the medium term. Of this, R400 billion has been earmarked for transport infrastructure, R220 billion for energy initiatives and R160 billion for water and sanitation. Additional funds have been allocated to public health, education and social protection. MPs were allowed to indicate if they wished to vote differently from their party, but none did. Committee chairperson Mmusi Maimane called for efficient governance despite the difficult economic conditions. 'This budget takes place under severely constrained economic conditions. We must ensure our budgeting processes are efficient so that the people of South Africa can participate fully in their own appropriation.' Despite the passage of the Bill, the debate exposed tensions in the coalition government partners, with DA MP Andrew Whitfield making it clear that support for the budget should not be mistaken for consensus. 'We don't need a national dialogue. We need more dialogue between the ANC and the DA,' he said, referring to unresolved tensions between the two parties over corrupt ministers in the ANC's ranks. The DA had initially signalled it would not support the individual budgets of departments implicated in corruption, but changed its mind after President Cyril Ramaphosa removed higher education minister Ramaphosa dismissed Nkabane earlier in the week and appointed her deputy, MPs warned Manamela that they would do to him what they did to Nkabane if he did not perform, with EFF MP Sihle Lonzi saying they would work with him because he had shown a willingness to fix students' accommodation problems at tertiary institutions and the dysfunction of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. The Patriotic Alliance's Ashley Sauls criticised delays and politicking ahead of the Bill, arguing that the DA had only supported it after scoring political points against the ANC in the form of Nkabane's axing. 'What we've learnt through this process is that we've placed politics above people,' Sauls said. Good party leader Patricia de Lille said the Bill was necessary but insufficient. 'A basic income grant is not radical. What is radical is a country where half the population lives in poverty,' she said. Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi said although the departmental budgets are not perfect, debating forever without supporting the Bill would imperil the poorest in the country. The IFP, FF+ and UDM, while supporting the Bill, raised concerns about the lack of targeted interventions, with IFP MP Nhlanhla Hadebe arguing that poverty and youth unemployment were not being adequately addressed. The Freedom Front Plus MP, Wouter Wessels, called for tighter fiscal controls, while the UDM's Nqabayomzi Kwankwa said the budget offered hope but fell short on public participation. 'The budget makes us feel like we are going to get there,' he said. The official opposition uMkhonto weSizwe party and Economic Freedom Fighters opposed the bill. EFF legislator Omphile Maotwe accused the coalition government of using the national budget to manage internal power plays. 'For the supervisors in the government on neoliberal unity, led by the chief supervisor Ms Helen Zille [the DA federal council chair] the budget is the tool to fight political squabbles,' Maotwe said. The MK party's Wesley Douglas described the Bill as 'morally indefensible', accusing the unity government of betraying its mandate, while the ATM's Vuyolwethu Zungula said white-owned businesses still retain 'a large portion of the state budget'. 'That is not transformation,' he said. The United Africans Transformation and National Coloured Congress parties also voted against the Bill, arguing it entrenched inequality and failed to break from 'neoliberal policies'. Attendance was decisive. Of the ANC's 159 MPs, 144 were present while the DA had 76 of 87 MPs in attendance. The IFP had 12 out of 17 and the PA's legislators were in full attendance, with all nine voting in favour of the budget. The FF Plus's five members were present and voted in favour. All ACDP, UDM, Rise Mzansi, Al Jama-ah, ActionSA and Build One South Africa MPs were also present. The Appropriations Bill now proceeds to its second stage, which involves detailed vote-by-vote scrutiny of departmental allocations. The final reading is expected before the end of the month, after which the Bill will be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Administrative, governance crisis could be averted when NA votes on Appropriation Bill: Analyst
DURBAN - Some political analysts believe an administrative and governance crisis could be averted on Wednesday when the National Assembly votes on the Appropriation Bill. The House sitting comes amid political infighting in the Government of National Unity (GNU), with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and African National Congress (ANC) still not on the same page on some issues not related to fiscal policy. ALSO READ: - Budget 2025: MK Party says it won't support Appropriation Bill - Budget 2025 expected to be settled when Parly sits to vote for Appropriation Bill The DA previously threatened to withhold crucial votes for the departments headed by ministers implicated in corruption, including Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane and Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane. Every department's vote must be passed for the bill to pass. Political scientist and lecturer in the Department of Political Studies at Walter Sisulu University, Mbasa Mvenene, said the DA will have to pick the lesser of two evils. 'If they decide to stick to their guns, they'll be accused of putting political optics over public interest. If they decide to prioritise public interests, then they'll be in hot water with their supporters.' Mvenene said the budget process, since the initial budget speech earlier in 2025, has exposed just how fragile the GNU really is. 'The relationship between the DA and the ANC is one that is toxic and one that is transactional. It now seems like they [the DA] are being treated more like a side chick than a partner in a marriage.' Although the worst-case scenario seems less likely now, if the National Assembly doesn't agree, the Public Finance Management Act allows the government to continue spending up to 45% of the previous year's budget to keep services running, but only for the first four months of the financial year. However, no new programmes or changes to allocations can be made until the new budget is approved.
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
LIVE: National Assembly debates final budget legislation, DA to support it but MK Party to oppose it
The National Assembly is debating the Appropriation Bill, the final piece of legislation needed to pass the 2025 and 2026 national budget. The National Assembly is debating the Appropriation Bill, the final piece of legislation needed to pass the 2025 national budget. However, the DA said it would vote in favor of the bill following the dismissal of Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, but MK Party said it will not support the bill. The sitting is taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The meeting will include the consideration of the Standing Committee on Appropriations' report on the Appropriation Bill, a debate on the Appropriation Bill, and votes on the schedule of the Appropriation Bill, which outlines the budgets for each department and entity. It will also include the second reading of the Appropriation Bill, which is the final vote on the bill After the conclusion of Budget vote debates in departmental allocations, the National Assembly will consider and vote on the Appropriation Bill. IOL News reported that the DA has made a u-turn, saying that it will support the 2025 and 2026 Appropriation Bill after President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to fire Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane over the SETA board appointment saga. The DA said Ramaphosa was forced to yield to sustained pressure from the party to ensure the passage of the bill, which allocates funding to national departments. 'The Democratic Alliance will support the 2025/26 Appropriation Bill following the president's decision to dismiss Minister Nkabane after sustained DA pressure. This decision is the crucial first step in holding compromised ministers accountable,' the party said in a statement. 'While long overdue, the removal of Minister Nkabane confirms that pressure from the DA within the Government of National Unity is yielding results.
